Interview
UN human rights adviser: ‘The war on drugs doesn’t work’
Zaved Mahmood, OHCHR drug policy adviser: ‘The most effective way to curb drug-related crime is to strengthen the rule of law, ensure a good justice system, and reduce consumption by adopting a robust public health approach.’
“Listening to and encouraging the voices of civil society and of the actual people who use drugs” is the necessary condition for seriously combating the scourge of drug trafficking at the global level, says Zaved Mahmood, a drug policy advisor to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
His extensive resume even includes studies in Italian art history. From Bangladesh to Florence and Rome, by way of the UK, France, Germany, and Austria, he has spent 25 years as a UN representative, from the 1998 Rome Conference on the International Criminal Court to peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Sudan. He is a member of the Advocacy Institute in the U.S. and received the UN Long Service Award in 2021.
After decades of repressive drug policies, do you see a shift in global trends?
It is now clear that the punitive approach adopted for over half a century doesn’t work, in any respect. More and more lives are being ruined, not only by drug use itself but also by the repercussions of counterproductive policies and the so-called "war on drugs." These approaches have not prevented people from using drugs or curbed drug-related crime; nor have they improved health and well-being. But, having recognized this failure, more and more states have been changing their approach. Thirty-nine countries have now adopted some form of decriminalization of drug use. Others have also opened up access to controlled substances for medical purposes.
However, there is still much to be done to achieve a human rights-based drug policy, as set out in the International Guidelines published in 2019 by UN agencies. According to the latter, every person has the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which also applies in the context of drugs. Health services and facilities must be available on a non-discriminatory basis. This also applies to people who use drugs, respecting their rights to privacy, bodily integrity and family life.
What is the situation in countries where drug offenses are punishable by death?
Although a small number of states are trending toward abolishing the death penalty, the countries that still have it are increasing the number of executions. In 2024, 615 people were executed for drug-related offenses, accounting for 40% of all executions worldwide. However, some states are changing in this regard: recently, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Vietnam have either abolished the death penalty for drug offenses or restricted its use.
What is happening in Europe?
In Europe, some countries have likewise taken steps to decriminalize drug use, as requested by the UN, and have achieved positive results. In Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, for example, in recent decades, a progressive decriminalization of use alone has reduced substance abuse, overdose cases and the mortality rate. Recently, the Czech Republic and Germany have decriminalized certain drugs and introduced regulations to control the market. In the Netherlands and Poland, prosecutors have softened police enforcement guidelines. Scottish authorities took an innovative approach by launching the “Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use” in 2024. Furthermore, several countries have begun investing in harm reduction, treatment and other health and social services. Without such an approach, decriminalization alone will not produce the desired results.
In the U.S., despite the legalization of marijuana in some states, is the Trump administration's policy in line with Nixon’s war on drugs?
Without downplaying the serious and complex challenges posed by the drug problem, including illicit trafficking, we do not believe that the so-called "war on drugs" is the solution. The most effective way to curb drug-related crime is to strengthen the rule of law, ensure a good justice system, and reduce consumption by adopting a robust public health approach to prevention, harm reduction and other forms of healthcare and treatment.
Drugs and wars remain deeply entangled. In which countries currently involved in armed conflict does the war economy depend significantly on drug trafficking proceeds?
In almost all of them, as the UN 2025 World Drug Report shows. Conflict and instability continue to provide fertile ground for drug production and trafficking worldwide, strengthening organized crime groups and pushing drug use to historically high levels.
How do you assess Colombia’s new drug policy? Its government is asking the UN to assess the human rights impact of the “war on drugs.” Do you foresee problems in its relations with neighboring countries or the U.S.?
In 2024, High Commissioner Volker Türk called for a radical shift in global policy. Colombia's request will provide an opportunity to reflect on how to reform the international drug control system in a way that respects human rights. If the world truly wants to address the global drug problem, international cooperation and coordination between states are urgently needed.
How do you see the role of civil society in pursuing more sensible drug policies?
Civil society and people who use drugs should be involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of drug policies. Civil society organizations clearly contribute by analyzing the issues, providing services and assessing the impact of drug policies. They often provide the only essential services in places that lack sufficient resources. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage community engagement and to listen to the voices of civil society. Unfortunately, the introduction of laws that restrict civic space, such as “foreign agent laws” (in force in countries like Russia, the U.S., Georgia, Hungary, Slovakia and El Salvador) and the loss of foreign support have had serious repercussions on organizations that provide care, harm reduction and other life-saving services. These practices must stop. States must ensure that civil society organizations are protected from any form of intimidation, threat, harassment or reprisal.
Originally published at https://ilmanifesto.it/i-governi-ascoltino-consumatori-e-associazioni-per-politiche-efficaci on 2025-11-05