A/HRC/30/65 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 28/28, the Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a study, in consultation with States, United Nations agencies and other relevant stakeholders, to be presented to the Council at its thirtieth session, on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights, and recommendations on respect for and the protection and promotion of human rights in the context of the world drug problem, with particular consideration for the needs of persons affected and persons in vulnerable situations. 2. Requests for information were sent to States and other stakeholders. Submissions were received from 24 States, 4 United Nations agencies and other international organizations, 4 national human rights institutions and 35 non-governmental organizations.1 3. Three treaties form the core legal framework of the United Nations international drug control regime: (a) the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol, which brought plants such as cannabis, the coca bush and the opium poppy under international control; (b) the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, which did the same for synthetic substances and precursor chemicals used in manufacturing drugs; and (c) the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, which increased the scope of international policing of the drug trade and highlighted the connection between the drug trade and organized crime (see art. 3 (5)). These treaties bring hundreds of illicit substances under international control, criminalizing virtually every aspect of the unauthorized production and distribution of those substances, although production, distribution and possession for medical and/or scientific purposes is permitted.2 While human rights are not specifically addressed in these treaties, the primary goal of the international drug control regime, as stated in the preamble of the 1961 Convention, is the protection of the health and welfare of humankind. 4. The International Narcotics Control Board oversees implementation of all three drug conventions. It monitors illicit drug production and trade, as well as access to controlled substances for scientific and medicinal purposes, and investigates States that do not comply with treaty requirements. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs classifies narcotic and psychotropic drugs under different levels of restriction; it also serves as a governing body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and approves the budget of the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. 5. In its resolution 69/201, the General Assembly reaffirmed that the world drug problem must be countered in full conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with full respect for all human rights. By its resolution 51/12, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs called for the promotion of human rights in implementing international drug control treaties, and the International Narcotics Control Board has stated that human rights must be taken into account when interpreting international drug control treaties. The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health has argued that when the international drug control regime and international human rights law conflict, human rights obligations should prevail (see A/65/255, para. 10). 1 2 2 The submissions are available from www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/WorldDrugProblem.aspx. See Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, art. 2 (5).