Briefing paper - Human rights, drug policy and young people who use drugs

There are a number of fundamental human rights that are violated as a result of the current drug policies and approaches to dealing with drug use among young people. These rights are held by all citizens - including young people - regardless of their drug use.

This paper covers how these rights are protected through the conventions on the rights of the child, the right to health, the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention and the right to a fair trial, the right to freedom from cruel, inhuman degrading treatment or punishment, the right to education, the right to information, however punitive drug policies continue to violate these basic human rights.