The webinar, held on Human Rights Day, served as the culmination of 16 Days of Activism, focusing on the vital role of human rights advocacy. It explored the intersection of health and human rights, particularly in the context of substance use disorders (SUDs), discrimination, and equitable access to healthcare.

Opening Remarks by Cressida de Witte (WFAD)

Cressida set the tone by emphasizing the importance of recognizing human rights as universal and essential in everyday advocacy – highlighting this year’s theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now”. She noted a growing polarization in human rights discourse, particularly between the right to choose and the right to health. Despite the universality of human rights, disparities persist in their application, risking failing to recognise the realities of people. Especially outside the Western world where research and dialogue on this subject are less developed, different realities are often overlooked. Highlighting the need for better global data, Cressida stressed that we must ensure the human rights to health, health care services, security, and access to medical care is fundamental to addressing inequalities.

Welcome Message by Amy Ronshausen (International President, WFAD)

Amy provided an insightful introduction to the World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD). She emphasized the significance of Human Rights Day as a moment to reflect on and reaffirm two fundamental rights: the right to access treatment and healthcare, and the right of every child to grow up in a drug-free environment.

Amy underscored how stigma acts as a powerful barrier, preventing marginalized communities from seeking care and perpetuating cycles of inequality. She passionately called for targeted investments in initiatives that address these systemic challenges, emphasizing the importance of strengthening families, creating safe and supportive spaces, and fostering dignity for those affected by substance use disorders.

In discussing the impact of drug-free environments, Amy highlighted the transformative potential for children to thrive, enabling them to reach their full potential and become active contributors to healthier, more resilient societies. Her message was a call to action: by prioritizing the rights of children and addressing the root causes of inequality, we can create a future where health, dignity, and opportunity are accessible to all. This vision encapsulates WFAD’s commitment to building stronger communities through compassion and proactive intervention.

Youth Declaration

Following the introduction, Cressida highlighting the Convention on the Rights of the Child and our obligation to encourage youth participation in matters that affect them. In the urge for youth participation in the international drug policy, a youth committee intends to share the voices of youth via a youth declaration. Cressida called the participants to share the survey for the youth declaration among their network and communities to ensure that the declaration becomes a powerful tool at global level with many youths supporting it. Find the survey here

Expert Presentations: Insights and Best Practices

Matej Košir from the Institute for Research and Development (UTRIP)

Matej spoke about the alarming normalization of drug use among youth and its impact on their well-being. He expressed concern about the focus on harm reduction in UN-level discussions, which often overlooks the importance of prevention and equitable care. Matej emphasized the need for NGOs to play a more significant role in advocating for health services that prioritize minority and underserved communities. He referenced a collective letter sent to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as a critical step in holding international bodies accountable for prioritizing the right to health.

Syed Zulfiqar Hussain from Youth Council for Anti-Narcotics (YOCFAN)

Syed’s presentation highlighted the significant barriers individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) face in accessing healthcare in Pakistan. These include pervasive societal stigma, limited healthcare infrastructure, and a lack of community-driven support systems. He emphasized the critical gap between need and capacity, citing that over 6.7 million people in Pakistan use drugs according to the National Survey on Drugs conducted in 2012 and published in 2013, yet only 1,990 treatment beds were available nationwide in 2013. After ten years now 10 million people are using drugs in the whole country.  The situation is even more dire for women, with barely any women-only treatment centers, reflecting systemic neglect and a lack of gender-sensitive care.

Framing the issue within the broader context of a third-world country, Syed argued that human rights are often interpreted in ways that deprioritize marginalized groups, exacerbating their struggles. He called for strengthening the health system by leveraging innovative digital tools and developing local solutions tailored to Pakistan’s cultural context. By empowering communities to lead these initiatives, he envisioned a more inclusive and sustainable approach to tackling drug dependency.

Shrishti Dubey from GAHR

Shrishti highlighted the organization’s efforts to address critical social justice issues through the Dedicated Legal Aids Clinics (DLAC) in Jaipur and Bharatpur. The focus was on combating discrimination, raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS Act, 2017, and supporting marginalized groups, including people living with HIV (PLHIV), transgender individuals, and youth. They also support people living with HIV with legal empowerment, so they know about their rights.

Key initiatives included over 100 legal interventions for PLHIV and establishing community counselling centres to promote resilience. Awareness programs reached 1,000-1,500 students across Rajasthan, fostering compassion and understanding about HIV-related issues. GAHR has worked with international organizations to impact over 90,000 lives, striving to eliminate HIV discrimination by 2030. Shrishti emphasized that initiatives like DLAC are vital in supporting vulnerable communities and ensuring no one is left behind in the fight for dignity and rights. Shrishti also reports the successes from a barefoot walk within an awareness champaign. The Padyatra awareness walk, which highlights the importance of HIV/AIDS Act 2017, garnered community attention and reinforced the need for inclusive, rights-based advocacy.

Shinasa Shahid PhD Student of the University of Derby

Shinasa Shahid explored the cultural dynamics influencing the addiction recovery experiences of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) women. She highlights how addiction recovery involves profound personal transformation, community engagement, and the role of cultural barriers in shaping recovery pathways.

BAME women face unique challenges such as stigma, family pressures, and underrepresentation in mainstream addiction recovery services. These issues are exacerbated by a lack of culturally tailored treatments, mistrust in healthcare systems, and racial discrimination. Stigma often silences women, discouraging them from seeking help due to fears of judgment and dishonoring their families.

Key findings revealed the importance of family and social support, faith, and culturally sensitive services in sustaining recovery. However, systemic barriers and the “one-size-fits-all” approach in mainstream services limit their effectiveness. The study calls for policy and service-level changes, advocating for ethnic-specific recovery programs to address these disparities and better support BAME women in their recovery journeys.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The webinar concluded with a unified and powerful call for action, emphasizing the critical need for greater collaboration between governments, NGOs, and communities to uphold the right to health as an integral aspect of human rights. The speakers collectively stressed that health inequities, stigma, and systemic barriers cannot be addressed in isolation; they require coordinated, inclusive efforts that prioritize marginalized voices and promote equity in care.

Central to the discussion was the urgency of dismantling systemic barriers that perpetuate discrimination and hinder access to healthcare. The speakers highlighted fostering inclusive, cross-sectoral dialogue as a cornerstone for driving meaningful change. They called for substantial investments in equitable healthcare systems tailored to the cultural and social contexts of affected populations, enabling individuals and communities to thrive.

The session also underscored that prioritizing human rights in health is not just a policy imperative but a moral and social responsibility. By anchoring health interventions in dignity and equity, the speakers envisioned a pathway to reclaiming individual and collective dignity, strengthening families impacted by health inequities, and creating a safer, healthier world for all.