To mark international “Support. Don’t Punish” day, 87 organizations sign open letter to Government of Canada
OTTAWA, CANADA | In the context of the ongoing toxic drug crisis and heightened politicized rhetoric around drug policy in Canada, a group of concerned civil society organizations have sent an open letter to federal politicians today, advocating for sensible drug policy reform, harm reduction, and an end to the ineffective and counterproductive measures of the failed “war on drugs.” The letter, spearheaded by a group of eight human rights and drug policy organizations, was further endorsed by 79 organizations (in Canada and beyond) and more than 270 individuals. This initiative is part of “Support. Don’t Punish”, a global grassroots campaign in support of harm reduction and drug policies that prioritize human rights and public health.
The “Support. Don’t Punish” Global Day of Action takes place on June 26, a date proclaimed by the United Nations each year as the “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.” Historically, governments around the world have used this day to express determination to strengthen action to achieve an international society free of “drug abuse” and showcase their drug control “achievements.” “Support. Don’t Punish” seeks to reclaim June 26 and shift the narrative.
“We have seen the devastating effects of more than a century of drug prohibition and criminalization. It has not stopped people using drugs, but has fueled stigma, racism, classism, discrimination, cartels, gun violence, and a deadly toxic drug supply that is killing 20 people every day in Canada,” says Nick Boyce, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition. “This letter, and the overall principles of the ‘Support. Don’t Punish’ campaign, show us a better way forward.”
The open letter, co-written by the Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs (CAPUD), the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC), Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP), the Harm Reduction Nurses Association (HRNA), the HIV Legal Network, Moms Stop The Harm (MSTH), Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (Oahas), and Thunderbird Partnership Foundation (Thunderbird), calls on politicians and organizations in Canada to:
- Denounce calls for involuntary or coercive drug treatment
- Regulate drug treatment services
- Stop withholding services, as this punishes people
- Develop community solutions driven by people who use drugs
- Repeal punitive drug laws
- Develop a framework for a legal regulated supply of drugs as a way to reduce harm
“We are calling on governments, and the public, to re-think how we approach drug policy,” says Corey Ranger, President, Harm Reduction Nurses Association. “Instead of wasting money on ineffective policing, courts and prisons, we could be providing housing, healthcare, education and other social supports, while allowing people to access a non-toxic and regulated supply of drugs, similar to how we do with alcohol and cannabis.”
The “Support. Don’t Punish” global campaign focuses on these key points:
- The drug control system is broken and in need of reform.
- People who use drugs should no longer be criminalized.
- People involved in the drug trade should not face harsh or disproportionate punishments, where retained.
- The death penalty should never be imposed for drug offences.
- Drug policy should focus on health, well-being and harm reduction.
- Drug policy budgets need rebalancing to ensure health and harm reduction-based responses are adequately financed.
So far, the letter has been endorsed by 64 organizations in Canada, 15 international organizations, and signed by 272 individuals. Visit: www.supportdontpunish.org or follow @SDPcampaign and the #SupportDontPunish hashtag on social media to learn more.
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Please read the attached letter.
Media contacts:
Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs
Natasha Touesnard, Executive Director (natashatouesnard@gmail.com)
Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
Beeta Senedjani, National Dialogues Program Coordinator (beeta_senedjani@sfu.ca)
Nick Boyce, Senior Policy Analyst (nicholas_boyce@sfu.ca; 416-948-0092)
HIV Legal Network:
Janet Butler-McPhee, Co-Executive Director (jbutler@hivlegalnetwork.ca)
Harm Reduction Nurses Association:
Corey Ranger, President (cranger.rn@gmail.com)
Background
Support. Don’t Punish is a global grassroots-centred initiative in support of harm reduction and drug policies that prioritise public health and human rights. The campaign seeks to put harm reduction on the political agenda by strengthening the mobilisation capacity of communities targeted by the “war on drugs” and their allies, opening dialogue with policy makers, and raising awareness among the media and the public.