International Journal on Human Rights and Drug Policy releases first article

The International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy is proud to announce the release of the first article for the 2010 edition of the  International Yearbook on Human Rights and Drug Policy.

The Yearbook is the only peer reviewed human rights law journal specifically focusing on drug issues.

The first article is ‘Targeted Killing of Drug Lords: Traffickers as Members of Armed Opposition Groups and/or Direct Participants in Hostilities’ by Patrick Gallahue and in available online on this website.

‘Targeted Killing of Drug Lords: Traffickers as Members of Armed Opposition Groups and/or Direct Participants in Hostilities’ by Patrick Gallahue, International Yearbook on Human Rights and Drug Policy

From International Yearbook on Human Rights and Drug Policy (Vol 1, 2010)

ABSTRACT

In 2009, the United States announced that it had placed fifty Afghan drug traffickers with links to the Taliban on a ‘kill list.’ This controversial proposal essentially weds the counter-narcotics effort with the mission to defeat the Taliban, and challenges a cornerstone of international humanitarian law, the principle of distinction. This article argues that drug traffickers, even those who support the Taliban, are not legitimate targets according to the rules applicable to non-international armed conflict. It explores the notions of membership in armed groups, civilian status and acts that result in the loss of protection, and argues that the US plan violates international humanitarian law.

IYHRDP 2010 Gallahue

‘Rights-based approaches’ to health policies and programs: Articulations, ambiguities, and assessment’. Sofia Gruskin, Dina Bogecho and Laura Ferguson 2010

Journal of Public Health Policy Vol. 31, 2, 129–145

Abstract

Rights-based approaches (RBAs) to health encompass an exciting range of ways that the United Nations, governments, and nongovernmental organizations incorporate human rights into public health efforts. By reviewing the academic literature and discrepant articulations of human rights and RBAs by key institutions, the authors identify common rights principles relevant to health and discuss a framework to improve implementation and guide assessment of the contributions of RBAs to health.

The article is not specific to drugs (or any specific health issue), but the lessons learned are important for a clearer understanding of what a rights based response to drug use and dependence might look like, and how these might be assessed. The human rights based approach has been applied to a range of fields, from health to access to justice, but the application of this approach to drug policies has not yet been considered.

The full article is available for download via the Program on International Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health

For more information on human rights based approaches see http://hrbaportal.org

Call for papers, 4th IJJO International conference, Rome 9-10 November 2010

The International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO) would like to inform you that the window is now open for the submission of papers for the Fourth IJJO International Conference: “Building integrative juvenile justice systems: Approaches and methodologies regarding mental disorders and drugs misuse” which will be held in Rome on 9 and 10 November 2010.

The deadline for the presentation of papers will expire on 28th May 2010. After evaluation has been carried out, you will receive an email confirming your participation in the Conference.

The speaking time for presentations will be 20 minutes.

You are reminded that the working languages at the International Conference will be: English, French and Italian.

The International Conference will focus on two main central themes:

I. Mental disorders and drugs misuse: Analysis of the situation of minors in conflict with the law.

• Study of the situation of young offenders with mental disorders or disorders related to drugs misuse: the basics of intervention.
• The response of juvenile-justice systems to offences committed by minors and young people suffering from mental disorders.
• Juvenile delinquency related to drugs misuse: profile of young offenders and analysis of the resources used for their social integration.

II. Juvenile justice and health systems: a necessary multidisciplinary and integrative collaboration.

• Mental disorders, drugs misuse and juvenile justice: ethical aspects and good practices.
• The relationship between juvenile justice systems and health services: the need to promote specialized resources.
• Encouraging policy and regulation: interface between systems.

For further information and queries, please contact:

roma2010@oijj.org

www.ijjo.org

‘A “Most Serious Crime”? – The Death Penalty for Drug Offences and International Human Rights Law’ by Rick Lines, Amicus Journal

From Amicus Journal (2010) Issue 21, p 21-28.

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the international law ramifications of applying the death penalty for drug offences.  It reviews the the ‘most serious crimes’ threshold for the lawful application of capital punishment as established in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  It then explores the question of whether drug offences meet this threshold by examining the issue through the lenses of international human rights law, the domestic legislation in retentionist states, international narcotics control law, international refugee law and international criminal law.  The article  concludes that drug offences do not constitute ‘most serious crimes’, and that executions of people for drug offences violates international human rights law.

A Most Serious Crime – R Lines 2010