Media Release

The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD) has today called on all Member States of the UN to re-visit their drug policies in light of the important commitment they have made when ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Ratified by the majority of Member States in 1989, the CRC is deemed to be the most universally accepted UN conventions globally. However, it could be in danger of being forgotten.

In all the discussion about Human Rights at the CND, one of the most important ones – in fact the linch-pin of all Human Rights – is in danger of being overlooked, said WFAD’s International President, Sven-Olov Carlsson

When related to illicit drugs, Article 33 of the CRC is very explicit when it states that Member states: “shall take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties, and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances”.

Specifically Article 3 says: “In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration”.

Further, Article 6 of the CRC states that “every child has the inherent right to life and that Member States “shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child”, and Article 27 states that Member States “recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development”.

Protecting children from illicit use/production/trafficking of drugs is not an option for States Parties to the CRC. It is an obligation, President Carlsson emphasised.

Now is the ideal time for each and every country to re-confirm their commitment to the Rights of the Child, says Josephine Baxter WFAD’s Vice President and Board member for Oceania. In reality, there is an urgent need for many Member States to make appropriate amendments to their country’s drug policy, if they find they are failing, in practice, to meet the requirements, said Ms. Baxter. ‘We must work together, with the United Nations on this one. Until we do, all the criticism some are leveling at the UN efforts on drug control can hardly be justified’.

Media Contact: Jo Baxter +61 403 334 002 – email:

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