Global Commission on Drug Policy

08/10/2026

Wonderful to spend time with Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico and a member of the Commission, and Ahsan Ahmad, who has worked closely with the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

The Global Commission, based in Geneva, Switzerland, brings together leaders from around the world to advance evidence-based approaches to drug policy.

An important part of our conversation was the concern that Connecticut has not kept pace with some of the data-driven policies being used elsewhere to save lives. We need to understand what is working, learn from the evidence, and be willing to move forward.

This crisis does not stop at borders. Connecticut needs to be part of the national and international conversation and continue advancing policies that protect people, reduce harm, and save lives.

07/10/2026

01/10/2026

On 30 September, the , United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR), Geneva Health Forum and Faculté de médecine - Université de Genève brought together experts, civil society, academia, students and members of the public in Geneva for "Youth and Drugs: Rethinking the Rules" / « Les jeunes et la drogue : repenser les règles ».

The discussion explored the global drug policy landscape and punitive approaches to drugs, the importance of meaningful youth participation, the human rights implications of drug policies, and what evidence tells us about prevention, treatment, harm reduction and public health.

The event featured:
• Ruth Dreifuss, Global Commissioner on Drug Policy and former President of Switzerland, who delivered opening remarks
• Michel Kazatchkine, Global Commissioner on Drug Policy and former Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
• Ruby Lawlor, Executive Director, Youth RISE
• Shivani Verma, Human Rights Officer, United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Barbara Broers, Specialist in clinical and public health aspects of addictions, Université de Genève
• Stéphane Bussard, Journalist, Le Temps, Moderator

The conversation reinforced the importance of evidence-based, people-centered approaches that protect the rights, health and well-being of children and young people, while ensuring that their experiences and perspectives meaningfully inform the policies that affect them.

The event followed the launch of the Global Commission on Drug Policy’s policy brief, “Making Children and Young People Visible in Drug Policy: A Child Rights-Based Agenda for Reform.”

📖 Read the policy brief: https://globalcommissionondrugs.org/policy-briefs/

30/09/2026

Touring The Thistle, Scotland’s safer drug consumption room, Switzerland’s former president talks to Holyrood about her ...

10/09/2026

In the name of protection, what is drug policy doing?

Children and young people are frequently invoked as a reason for punitive drug policies. But what do those policies themselves actually mean for their rights, health, well-being and futures?

On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, the Global Commission on Drug Policy – with the support of Open Society Foundations, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP and Youth RISE - will host an in-person side event to the 81st United Nations General Assembly:

“Transforming Drug Policy: A Focus on Children and Youth”

📅 Tuesday, 22 September 2026
🕤 09:30 – 11:00 EDT
📍 Convene 101 Park Avenue, New York (US) - Pershing Hub, 1st floor

The discussion will examine how drug policies affect children and young people - including those who use drugs, but also those affected by criminalisation and deprivation of liberty, family separation, violence and policing, exploitation in drug economies, and barriers to accessing essential medicines and health services.

It will ask what changes when drug policy is viewed through a child rights lens: prioritising children’s best interests, health and development; ensuring access to evidence-based and age-appropriate information and services, including harm reduction; and enabling children and young people to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives.

The event will feature:

• Helen Clark, Chair, Global Commission on Drug Policy
• Ruby Lawlor, Executive Director, Youth RISE
• Maria Camila Cuéllar, Manager - Juvenile Justice Programs, Fundación Tiempo de Juego
• Zeinab Hijazi, Global Lead for Mental Health, UNICEF
• Moderated by Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director – Prosperity & Wellbeing Hub, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP

📌 Places are limited. Early registration is encouraged. Register here: https://forms.gle/pwgswcQJKZXq61mP7

The event follows the publication of the Global Commission’s new policy brief, “Making Children and Young People Visible in Drug Policy: A Child Rights-Based Agenda for Reform”.

The brief’s central premise is simple: protecting children must mean protecting their rights, health and well-being - not exposing them to further harm.

The brief is also available in a child- and youth- friendly version.

09/09/2026

Today we are also launching a child- and youth-friendly version of our policy brief, “Making Children and Young People Visible in Drug Policy.”

It explains in an accessible language how drug policies affect children and young people, what their rights are, and why their views and experiences matter.
Children and young people are not on the sidelines of drug policy. They are directly affected by it and must have a say in decisions that affect their lives.

We hope this version will help make the issues easier to understand, discuss and engage with.
📄 Read here in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic and Russian: https://globalcommissionondrugs.org/policy-briefs/


Youth RISE | Global Campus of Human Rights

The Global Commission on Drug Policy produces policy briefs to address key drug policy issues and provide concise, evidence-based recommendations grounded in human rights, health, and development.

09/09/2026

Today we launch our new policy brief: “Making Children and Young People Visible in Drug Policy: A Child Rights-Based Agenda for Reform”.

Children and young people are deeply affected by drug policies, yet too often remain invisible in their design.

And policies adopted in the name of “protection” can themselves cause harm.

Our new brief – developed with children and young people - calls for a child rights-based approach grounded in evidence, public health and meaningful participation – with urgent action on:

• Deprivation of liberty
• Essential controlled medicines
• Reducing drug-related harms
• Exploitation in illicit drug economies

Protecting children must mean protecting their rights, health and well-being.

📄 Read more: https://globalcommissionondrugs.org/policy-briefs/


Youth RISE | Global Campus of Human Rights

The Global Commission on Drug Policy produces policy briefs to address key drug policy issues and provide concise, evidence-based recommendations grounded in human rights, health, and development.

07/09/2026

On 30 September, the Global Commission on Drug Policy, Geneva Health Forum and Université de Genève will bring together experts, civil society, academia and the wider public for an in-person discussion in Geneva:

“Youth and Drugs: Rethinking the Rules / Les jeunes et la drogue : repenser les règles”

📅 Wednesday, 30 September 2026
🕡 18:30–20:00, followed by a reception
📍 Room "MS150", University of Geneva (UNIGE), Uni Mail
40 Boulevard du Pont-d'Arve, 1205 Geneva

The event will follow the launch of the Global Commission on Drug Policy’s new policy brief, “Making Children and Young People Visible in Drug Policy: A Child Rights-Based Agenda for Reform”.

The panel will bring together:

• Ruth Dreifuss, Commissioner, Global Commission on Drug Policy and former President of Switzerland
• Michel Kazatchkine - Мишель Казачкин, Commissioner, Global Commission on Drug Policy and former Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
• Ruby Lawlor, Executive Director, Youth RISE
• Shivani Verma, Human Rights Officer, United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Barbara Broers, Specialist in clinical and public health aspects of addictions, University of Geneva
• Stéphane Bussard, Journalist, Le Temps, as moderator

Children and young people are profoundly affected by drug policies, but their rights, needs and experiences are too often overlooked. What do punitive drug policies mean for young people in practice? How can evidence, human rights and public health guide better approaches? And how can young people themselves have a meaningful role in shaping the policies that affect them?
English and French interventions are welcome.

🎟️ More information & mandatory registration available here: https://genevahealthforum.com/.../youth-and-drugs.../

Join us for a discussion about what needs to change if drug policy is to better protect the human rights, health and well-being of children and young people.