HRC59 - JST - The right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
Human Rights Council – 59th Session
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
Joint statement delivered by Colombia
19 June 2025
Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of 30 courtiers from Latin America, Africa, Europe, and the Asia Pacif: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Chipre, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Gambia, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Island, Marshall Islands, North Macedonia, Panama, Portugal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of her report (A/HRC/59/48), which highlights, among other aspects, the negative impact that punitive drug policies have on health service providers.
In this regard the report (A/HRC/56/52) has been instrumental in drawing the Council’s attention to how punitive and stigmatizing approaches to drug control undermine the right to health.
The alignment between the conclusions and recommendations of the special Rapporteur and those of the High Commissioner reinforces a clear and united message: drug policies must be rooted in human rights, supported by scientific evidence, and should provide access adequate health services for all with no discrimination.
There is an unprecedented moment across the UN system—at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, the General Assembly in New York, and the Human Rights Council here in Geneva—regarding the importance of a human rights-base approach to drug policies.
We welcome recent advances such as the resolution adopted by the CND in Vienna that establishes for the first time a multidisciplinary expert panel with the mandate to review the international drug control system and provide practical recommendations.
It is essential that the Human Rights Council continues to actively engage in this agenda and to ensure that a human rights perspective remains at the core of global drug policy discussions, and supports States in their efforts to “Respect, protect and promote all human rights, fundamental freedoms and the inherent dignity of all individuals in the development and implementation of drug policies”— as expressed by the UNGASS2016 outcome document.