UN emphasizes public health and human rights-based approaches at the Philippine Drug Policy Summit Launch

This launches a series of sectoral dialogues, which aims to inform the proposed amendments to the national drug legal framework to embody a public health approach that centers on human rights.

The UN Joint Programme for Human Rights in the Philippines (UNJP), led by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), convened representatives from various sectors at the University of the Philippines College of Law, the academic host for the dialogues. Government officials, civil society organizations, the academe, and development partners engaged in initial discussions on the new approach of the country to drug policy under a novel health, social, and developmental pillar in the Enhanced Philippine Drugs Strategy. 

Speaking at the event, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez emphasized the importance of employing a comprehensive and holistic approach to drug policy and law reform.

“As a problem rooted in socioeconomic circumstances, controlling drug use requires a more comprehensive approach. This means putting people first by ending stigma and discrimination, while strengthening prevention efforts,” he said.

Gonzalez added, “This entails upholding the human rights of people who use drugs by providing prevention and treatment programmes, health services, etc. On the other hand, it also involves protecting communities by stopping drug traffickers who profit from people’s suffering and ensuring accountability for their actions.”

The Philippine Drug Policy Summit is an initiative under the Human Rights-Based Approach to Drugs Technical Working Group of the UNJP. It has institutional support from various organizations, including the University of the Philippines Institute of Human Rights, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS), Drug Policy Reform Initiative (DPRI), NoBox Philippines, IDUCare, StreetLaw PH, and the Institute of Politics and Governance.

The sectoral dialogues are scheduled for 8-24 May. The UNJP invites civil society partners and stakeholders to engage in open and meaningful conversations to promote and protect the health, lives, and well-being of Filipinos through evidence-informed, scientific, and human rights-based drug policies.