On this Human Rights Day, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing the fundamental rights and dignity of individuals everywhere. Human rights are the cornerstone of all our efforts to create a world where people are treated with respect, understanding, and compassion.

The Human Rights Day is a reminder that it is our obligation, as well as our states obligation, to advocate for and provide Human Rights to all. This year’s theme announced by the United Nations is “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now“. It is a great message marking what we advocate for – not a day should get wasted in advancing the human rights for all, including marginalised communities, women, children, youth, persons in recovery, etc. Today, we recognize the urgent need to address the intersection between substance use dependence, poverty, marginalization, and human rights violations. Millions of individuals around the world continue to face discrimination and denial of access to essential health services and receiving the care required. These practices undermine their basic rights to health and safety.

The Human Right to Health is essential to be upheld as it is a legal obligation to esnure access to timely, acceptable, and affordable health care to persons facing substance use disorders while protecting children from the use and illicit trafficking of substances. Besides this, to ensure gender- and culturally- sensitisised, age-appropriate, and trauma-centred programmes, it is important to increase available research on populations that have so-far often been overlooked since most research and statistics stem from the Western world.

Therefore, we urge for the increase of relevant research from other regions to support the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks for existing programmes and include a broader perspective within the drug policy discussion. We believe that every person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the right to live free from stigma and violence, and have access to the healthcare and support they need to regain their dignity and well-being while others are protected through prevention efforts. The WFAD calls for a global commitment to a rights-based approach to drug policy—one that prioritizes prevention, harm reduction in a continuum of care, treatment, education, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society. 

On this Human Rights Day, we ask governments, civil society, and individuals worldwide to act with compassion and justice, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of equality, opportunity, and human dignity. 

Working Together for a Drug-Free World, Where Human Rights Are Protected and Respected.