Harm Reduction International
HRI
Harm Reduction International envisions a world in which drug policies uphold dignity, health and rights We use data and advocacy to promote harm reduction and drug policy reform. We show how rights-based, evidence-informed responses to drugs contribute to healthier, safer societies, and why investing in harm reduction makes sense. The organisation is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
ID: 589651424773-19
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU Drugs Strategy and European Action Plan Against Drug Trafficking
26 Sept 2025
1. Prioritise an evidence-, health-, rights-based approach to drugs Reaffirm EUs commitment to UN guidance, including the UN System Common Position, the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy and reports from OHCHR and HRC mandates. Promote dissemination and operationalisation of the Guidelines as a tool to guide evidence-based drug policy reform at domestic and regional level 2.. Prioritise harm reduction Harm reduction remains the most effective intervention to protect the health and dignity of people who use drugs. Harm reduction remains ideologically contested, its implementation obstacled, and funding is grossly insufficient. The EU focus should be strengthened, and the EU should play a strategic role in ensuring adequate funding for harm reduction services both in EU countries and through External Action: Expand and fund harm reduction services in line with best practices and scientific evidence, including for stimulants and other substance whose use is increasing. These should include drug consumption rooms, take-home naloxone, drug checking harm reduction in closed settings. Services should be integrated and meaningfully involve peers in design/implementation. Advocate for sustainable funding for harm reduction both at domestic level and in multilateral fora; including through reallocation of resources from ineffective and harmful practices and towards evidence-based interventions. Develop an Action Plan for harm reduction with meaningful engagement of communities/civil society. Adopt a holistic approach that addresses intersecting vulnerabilities. 3. Safeguard meaningful community/civil society participation Civil society and network of people who use drugs play a vital role in shaping drug policy and delivering services. Yet, across Europe, organisations face increasing repression: Recognise and support the critical and unique role of both civil society and affected communities. Commit EU funding for community and civil society-led research and interventions re drug policy reform and service delivery, both within the EU and through External Action. 4. Prioritise promotion and protection of human rights. Human rights promotion is not a pillar of the current EU Drugs Strategy, but it informs the whole strategy. People who use, cultivate, or are otherwise engaged in the drug market, as well as harm reduction providers, continue experiencing a broad range of human rights violation; and punitive approaches to drugs often reinforce cycles of violence, instability, and poverty. In the past two years, almost half of all executions known to have been carried out were for drug-related offences: Prioritise protection and promotion of human rights both within the EU and through External Action; Promote regular engagement of EU in third countries with local civil society to ensure regular information is received on relevant trends, and that the EU can effectively advocate to preventing/stopping violations. Prioritise abolition of the death penalty for drug offences as part of EU external action; including by ensuring adequate funding for civil society at national level. Ensure EU is not funding or otherwise cooperating in/supporting any policy, programme or practice that risks contributing to human rights violations in the name of drug control. Integrate human rights assessments in the design, monitoring and evaluation of supply reduction programmes, including those implemented through international cooperation; with meaningful civil society and community engagement. 5. Strengthen the EUs role in multilateral fora In global drug policy fora, especially at the CND, the EU has historically promoted health- and rights-based approaches, and safeguarded civil society engagement: Maintain a unified, progressive stance at the UN, grounded in international human rights. Base EU positions on key UN documents, including the UNGASS Outcome Document, UN System Common Position,
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