At the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna (March 2024), ECECACD co-sponsored four side events, advocating for evidence-based and human rights-oriented drug policies:
- Public Health Policing: Advancing Drug Policy Reform, Harm Reduction, and Collaborative Strategies
- State Control Over People with Drug Dependence: Toward a Coherent Public Health Policy
- Decriminalization as a Public Health & Human Rights Approach to Drug Policy
- Unveiling Injustice: The Human Rights Impact of Drug Policies in the CEECA Region
A key focus across discussions was the decriminalization of simple drug possession. Experts emphasized that criminalization is ineffective and counterproductive:
- It does not deter drug use
- It diverts police resources from tackling serious drug crimes
- It fosters corruption within law enforcement
- It is a disproportionate response to a non-violent act
- It contributes to over-incarceration
In contrast, decriminalization offers significant benefits:
- Endorsed by the UN (UN system common position) as a best practice with strong scientific backing
- Cost-effective, reallocating resources from policing and incarceration to public health
- Refocuses law enforcement on drug trafficking rather than individuals who pose no harm
- Improves public health, increasing access to HIV prevention and treatment
ECECACD remains committed to advancing policies that prioritize public health, human rights, and harm reduction.