26 July 2024
The Hon Helen Clark former PM of New Zealand & Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy and musician Sir Elton John joined forces this week to write an opinion piece to coincide with the AIDS2024 Conference. For the 25th anniversary of this important IAS event, they combined the considerable weight of their shared reputations to call for an end to the punitive drug laws that block the harm reduction approach so essential for reducing risks for people who use drugs, including avoidable blood borne viruses such as HIV AIDS.
Helen Clark spoke at AIDS2024 on this topic, stating that people who use drugs have been “left behind” through harmful drug laws. She called prohibition a “wrong-headed” approach and the UN international drug conventions that underpin the punitive laws in place in individual countries “shocking”.
Helen Clark and Elton John teamed up to put a compassionate lens on this controversial issue, beginning their support for drug law reform with that familiar phrase, always welcome: “The war on drugs has failed”. The authors were unequivocal in their recommendation for drug law reform and clear in their reasoning: AIDS can only be ended if prohibition is replaced by a public health approach.
“The war on drugs has failed. A public health approach, not prohibition, must be front and centre of the response to drugs – only then can we end AIDS.” the article begins. It continues: “Every human being deserves the fundamental right to a healthy life, but many around the world face stigma and harsh penalties, preventing them from getting help. ” Ms Clark and Sir Elton added that prohibition failed to achieve a drug-free world, with 296 million using drugs in 2021 alone.
Referencing the conference they wrote of leading with compassion, inclusion, human rights, public health, and scientific evidence, applicable to drug policy as to AIDS policy. They called for harm reduction.
They claimed an approach of decriminalising possession of small amounts for personal use and providing treatment, counselling, and housing, citing the Czech Republic, Portugal, and Switzerland as successes. They also wrote that decrim alone could not fix the complex health and social issues underpinning drug use and decrim must include psycho-social support.
They cited the UN coalition led by Colombia calling for a review of the international drug control system. The High Commissioner for Human Rights called upon States to consider the legal regulation of drugs to address the black market and as a harm reduction measure – the first time ever the UN has recommended something like this.
They conclude that the response to drugs must be a public health approach requiring policy makers to be willing to change course, act on the evidence and show compassion and in the spirit of AIDS2024 engage in “more putting people first”. They conclude “Only then can we truly end AIDS.”
Reference: Daily Telegraph, England, 25 July