Publication Type: Advocacy

Letter to the UN Secretary-General re: Exploitation by China of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

“As has been reported repeatedly in international media, since 1990 China has ‘celebrated’ the International Day by executing persons convicted of drug crimes. These executions are often held in public venues, such as stadiums, and sometimes shown on television. In addition to the basic due-process questions and other human rights concerns raised by these executions … Read more

Getting the Regime Right – Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology regarding Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime

Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime is not delivering on the country’s pledge to help developing countries get affordable medicines. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network recommends a number of changes that will help fix the current, flawed Regime. Our central recommendation would replace the existing process for obtaining a compulsory licence with something considerably more streamlined … Read more

Tories’ addiction plan misses mark – Toronto Star letter to the editor

“The new national anti-drug strategy announced in the federal budget ignores the impressive body of scientific evidence on the value of investing in harm reduction and alternatives to criminal prosecution for non-violent drug offences. The new strategy funds law enforcement, prevention and treatment programs — three of the four so-called “pillars” common in many drug … Read more

Letter to Minister for International Cooperation Josée Verner re: Demonstrating Canada’s commitment to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment by 2010

“[W]e write to encourage you to continue showing Canada’s commitment to address the global HIV/AIDS crisis when you participate in the G8 development and cooperation Ministers meeting on March 27 and 28 in Berlin, Germany. “Prior to the International AIDS Conference in Toronto last summer, GTAG developed a four-point action plan recommending steps CIDA and … Read more

Shelley v. the United Kingdom: Response to the submission of the U.K. government

After filing a submission to the European Court of Human Rights regarding this prisoner’s case against the British government, the Legal Network and the Irish Penal Reform Trust were invited to prepare a supplementary submission in reply to the U.K. government’s observations. To read the original submission, see “Related Publications” below.

Letter to ECOSOC and the UNODC re: exclusion of NGOs from CND Committee of the Whole

“As representatives of ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations who have attended the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), we write to express our concern and discontent with the recent recommendation by the Extended Bureau, relayed by CND secretary Andres Finguerut, that the Committee of the Whole should be a “private” meeting excluding NGOs. This recommendation violates the spirit … Read more

Letter to Minister of Finance James M. Flaherty re: Demonstrating Canada’s Commitment to a Comprehensive Funding Plan for Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment by 2010

“At the Gleneagles Summit in July 2005, G8 leaders promised to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010. Canada was among the countries that reaffirmed a commitment to this target … Read more