UN eyes more public health approach to drug use in Philippines

The United Nations (UN) on Monday said it is targeting to have more public health-approach in handling the drug use problem in the Philippines.

Under the Antipolo Declaration issued on Monday, the UN stated that its Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Human Rights Based-Approach to Drugs aims to achieve the following objectives:

• increase in the availability and voluntary access to a range of appropriate human rights-based and scientifically informed services that include health, social and developmental support for persons whose lives include drugs;
• increase the capacity to address cross-cutting issues in drug control, according to the Nelson Mandela Rules, Bangkok Rules, and Havana Rules among others;
• strengthen international cooperation on drug control based on the principle of common and shared responsibility and in line with international standards, strengthen joint action at national, regional and international levels to accelerate implementation of joint commitments to address the world drug problem; and
• develop and implement a communication strategy on human rights based-approach to drugs

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) senior policy advisor Olivier Lermet read the declaration during UN’s dialogue and workshop with local government units, national government agencies, civil society groups, and members of the media about the public health approach on substance abuse.

The UN, the Philippine government including the Commission on Human Rights, and the civil society have entered into the UN Joint Programme for Human Rights in the Philippines.

To improve the situation of human rights in the Philippines, the Joint Programme convened the TWG on the Human Rights Based-Approach to Drugs.

The TWG developed its goals and strategic objectives for the Joint Programme, which was approved by UNODC’s Steering Committeee. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News