Excellent campaign. Both strands, videos and demonstrations, can be very effective provided the anti-prohibition movement can keep the momentum and the pressure. Even though the message in itself is not new, there is something particularly poignant when shown through these “fake” characters: the reality is so overwhelming and telling that those same characters become real spokespersons. Reality surpasses fiction!

Gart Valenc
http://www.stopthewarondrugs.org

   This satirical look prohibition and the profit motives of the cartels is brilliant and should be viewed by every member of the U. S. congress.

2010 Annual Report to the General Assembly from the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (main focus: the right to health and international drug control, compulsory treatment for drug dependence and access to controlled medicines)

Contents
Page
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
II. The right to health and international drug control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
III. Impact of drug control upon realization of the right to health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A. Deterrence from accessing services and treatment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
B. Discrimination and stigma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
C. Increased risks while using drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
D. Disproportionate impact on vulnerable and marginalized communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
IV. Compulsory treatment for drug dependence and infringements on the right to health . . . . . . . 11
V. Access to controlled medicines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
VI. A human rights-based approach to drug control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A. Harm reduction and evidence-based treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
B. Decriminalization and de-penalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
C. Use of human rights indicators and guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
D. Alternative regulatory frameworks for drug control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
VII. Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Report contains many specific criticisms of human rights violations due to "war on drugs" approach to drug controls. Advocates a human rights-based approach to drug control although it is very weak in addressing controlling substances as obstacle to enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief. Recommends United Nations entities and Member States consider creation of an alternative drug regulatory framework.

Currently three treaties form the core legal framework of the United Nations international drug control regime: (a) the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) as amended by the 1972 Protocol, which consolidated previous international agreements and brought plants such as marijuana, coca and the opium poppy under international control; (b) the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), which did the same for synthetic substances and precursor chemicals used in manufacturing drugs; and (c) the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988), which increased the scope and intensity of international policing of the drug trade and highlighted the connection between the drug trade and organized crime. The Special Rapporteur considers that there is a need in the long term to consider alternatives to the current drug control system. One such alternative model may be the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, in which certain controlled medicines would be regulated in a manner similar to tobacco.

To download a PDF copy of the 25 page report in English go to http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/health/right/annual.htm. Look for 2010 report A/65/255 and click on E.

Some links concerning freedom of religion or belief.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/standards.htm
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/standards.htm#II2
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/docs/RapporteursDigestFreedomReligionBelief.pdf

Excellent campaign. Both strands, videos and demonstrations, can be very effective provided anti-prohibition movement can keep the momentum and the pressure: new venues, new audiences. Even though the message in itself is not new, there is something particularly poignant when shown through these “fake” characters: the reality is so overwhelming and telling that those same characters become real spokespersons. Reality surpasses fiction!

Gart Valenc
http://www.stopthewarondrugs.org