Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, June 27 threw her support to the United Nations human rights experts call for an end to global “war on drugs” saying that the Philippine’s experience itself proves that it is ineffective.
                                 Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB Photo)

“Our experience from the previous administration proves that the law enforcement-heavy ‘war on drugs’ is ineffective,” Hontiveros said in a statement, referring to the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who launched a bloody anti-narcotics campaign where thousands have been killed, following his election in 2016. “It only creates opportunities for human rights abuses and violations, and further aggravates the situation of the marginalized communities living in poverty,” she said. “As we know, drug-related killings in the Philippines have not stopped. Some high-ranking state operatives are also allegedly linked to the drug trade,” the senator added. Hontiveros said she hopes that the present administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will find time to cooperate and help give justice to the victims of the drug war, review the current policies towards a more comprehensive, inclusive, humane and just drugs response and promote a community-based drugs prevention and voluntary treatment and rehabilitation. “Umaasa din tayo na sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon na mas bibigyang-diin nito ang pagtugon sa mga serbisyong pangkalusugan at panlipunan (health and social services) ng mga nangangailangan, tulad ng mga persons who use drugs (PWUDs) at maging nga mga vulnerable sa paggamit na ipinagbabawal na gamot (We also hope that under the current administration it will put more emphasis on addressing the health and social services of those in need, such as persons who use drugs (PWUDs) and even those who are vulnerable to use which is a prohibited drugs),” the lawmaker stressed. “As we move forward, I hope to work with my colleagues in reviewing and enacting new drug policies anchored on harm reduction principles and the human rights of all,” she said. Ahead of the 2023 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the UN experts called on the international community to replace punishment with support, and promote policies that respect, protect and fulfill the rights of all. The UN experts also called on member states and all UN agencies to “ground all their drug policy responses in international human rights law and standards.”