Thousands in more than 100 cities around the world protesting the drug war

Citizens are taking to the streets to protest current drug policies and to call for an end to the senseless criminalization of drug users.

Thousands of activists took to the streets in more than 100 cities on June 26 to highlight how harmful drug laws have caused a health crisis, instability and mass incarceration around the world.

Mass demonstrations and other actions are planned in five Indian cities, as well as London, Paris, Warsaw, Mexico City, Kathmandu, Rome, Phnom Penh, Tbilisi, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow and more than 85 other cities. The actions are varied from public gatherings, street art, dance displays, music concerts, public meetings, workshops, boat shows, social media campaigns, and advertisements on public transportation and billboards.

In India, demonstrations will take place in Patna, Bihar; Panipat, Haryana; Haridwar, Uttarakhand; Imphal, Manipur; and Jammu. Harm reduction activists, community members and other stakeholders will gather for street rallies in each city, holding placards that press for decriminalisation of drug use and demand for access to quality health services. Rallies will end with street plays to sensitise the public on issues like harm reduction and HIV prevention among drug users. In some locations, additional stakeholder meetings are planned to facilitate dialogue on the need for stronger state support to deal with the health and social concerns of people who use drugs.

The events are scheduled for June 26, which is the United Nations’ International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This day is used by many governments to justify violent crackdowns and promote harsh punishments. It has even been used in the past for public executions and beatings of drug offenders in some countries.

James Robertson, Executive Director, India HIV/AIDS Alliance noted, “Although progress has been made in India, harm reduction has not been fully scaled up. For example, Opioid Substitution Therapy has been embraced as an essential tool in these efforts and is supported by the Government of India. Yet, according to the data from our Hridaya programme, the percentage of drug users currently benefitting from this intervention is only 3% in Bihar, 17% in Uttarakhand, 18% in Haryana, and 27% in Jammu.”

Simon W. Beddoe, a harm reduction expert at Alliance India added, “Jailing drug users simply avoids the problem. We have effective tools to address the challenges of drug addiction and HIV, and many individuals who face these harms could benefit from such support. This is a global problem that needs renewed leadership and India can be the leading voice to make harm reduction interventions the norm worldwide.”

The “Support. Don’t Punish: Global Day of Action” seeks to reclaim this day and promote a more effective and humane approach to drugs that is based on public health and human rights. The campaign is organised by a coalition of NGOs calling on governments to put an end to the expensive and counter-productive war on drugs. According to estimates, the drug war costs in excess of $100 billion annually to enforce and has failed to reduce drug markets or drug use.

The list of high-profile figures calling for the end of this war on drugs is growing fast: President José Mujica of Uruguay, former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, Brad Pitt, Sir Richard Branson, Kofi Annan and Russell Brand to name a few.

About India HIV/AIDS Alliance:

India HIV/AIDS Alliance (Alliance India) is a diverse partnership that brings together committed organisations and communities to support a sustained response to HIV in India. Complementing the national programme in India, we work through capacity building, knowledge sharing, technical support and advocacy. Through our network of partners, Alliance India supports the delivery of effective, innovative, community‐based HIV programmes to key groups affected by the epidemic.

About the “Support. Don’t Punish.” Campaign

“Support. Don’t Punish.” is a global advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the harms being caused by the criminalisation of people who use drugs. The campaign aims to change laws and policies which impede access to harm reduction interventions, and to promote respect for the human rights of people who use drugs. For more information and resources on the campaign, visit www.supportdontpunish.org