A/79/177
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health
Harm reduction for sustainable peace and development
Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Tlaleng
Mofokeng, focuses on harm reduction and explores this model as applicable to drug
use and to other issues that are central to sustainable peace and development,
spotlighting populations that are often stigmatized, criminalized and discriminated
against to the detriment of their enjoyment of human rights. She focuses on the cases
of drug use, HIV exposure, transmission and non-disclosure, abortion, same-sex
relations, and sex work, arguing that States should divest from a punitive approach,
moving away from criminalization while also employing regulatory tools to improve
health outcomes. For the cases of tobacco, alcohol, food and nutrition, and
environmental harms, she argues that harm reduction means adequately and
effectively regulating corporate actors. The Special Rapporteur addresses how harm
reduction can align with the right to health and related rights in the context of
universal health coverage and with the rights of those in situations of vulnerability,
including conflict, health emergencies and climate change. In her report, she focuses
on good practices in different parts of the world and encourages States to integrate
harm reduction as part of universal health coverage plans, incorporating
comprehensive services that are accessible, affordable, ac ceptable and of quality.
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