The right to health and international drug control, compulsory treatment for drug dependence and access to controlled medicines 2010, para. 17
Paragraph
Paragraph text
Health is a human right that is indispensable for the exercise of other human rights. Countries that are overly punitive in sentencing also violate other rights of people who use drugs. Thirty-two jurisdictions currently retain the death penalty for drug offences, some mandatorily. Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights allows for imposition of the death sentence only for "the most serious crimes" (General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI)). The Human Rights Committee and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions have confirmed that drug offences do not meet those criteria, and thus executions for drug offences are in violation of international human rights law.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
Document type
Special Procedures' report
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
Governance & Rule of Law
Health
Person(s) affected
All
Year
2010
Paragraph type
Other
Reference
SR Health, Report to the UNGA (2010), A/65/255, para. 17.