The Pompidou Group’s Mediterranean network for co-operation on drugs and addictions (MedNET) published a first overview document on human rights of people who use drugs covering 17 MedNET countries.
The publication includes different topics, among them the consideration of drug use as a disease when developing drug policy, the right of access to care and treatment as a fundamental right for people who use drugs, the implementation of evidence-based prevention practices and health strategies, the fight against stigma and the needed adaptation of the legal framework to integrate a human rights approach.
This publication is the outcome of a first round of discussions among MedNET countries aimed at gaining a better understanding of the meaning of human rights in drug policy and exchanging best practices and ideas on this subject.
The discussion was initiated following the November 2018 ‘Stavanger Declaration’ adopted at the Pompidou Group’s Ministerial Conference which reaffirms a focus on “human rights as a fundamental cornerstone in drug policy”, in line with the Council of Europe’s core mission.