UN Philippines chief bats for human-rights based approach to drugs and crime

UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez met with UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Director Jean-Luc Lemahieu in Vienna to express the UN Country Team in the Philippines' appreciation for UNODC's support to the UN Joint Programme on Human Rights (UN JPHR), particularly:

1. Technical Assistance and capacity building to help the Philippines transition from compulsory care for drug users to voluntary care;
2. Advocacy for harm reduction;
3. Availability of drug treatment and other health services for persons who use drugs or with drug use disorders within the criminal justice system;
4. Prison decongestion and treatment as alternative to incarceration;
5. Special needs of women who use drugs and women deprived of liberty; 
6. Work on ongoing and possible relevant legislations, drug policy review.