Pubdate: Fri, 27 Feb 2009
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2009 Guardian News and Media Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Duncan Campbell, The Guardian
Cited: Release http://www.release.org.uk/
Cited: International Drug Policy Consortium http://www.idpc.info/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

VATICAN'S STANCE ON UN DRUGS POLICY 'RISKS LIVES'

The Vatican has been accused of putting the lives of thousands at 
risk by attempting to influence UN drugs policy on the eve of a major 
international declaration.

The Vatican's objection to "harm reduction" strategies, such as 
needle exchange schemes, has ignited a fierce debate between the US 
and the EU over how drugs should be tackled.

A new UN declaration of intent is due to be signed in Vienna on 11 
March. However, there are major disagreements between member 
countries over whether a commitment to "harm reduction" should be 
included in the document, which is published every 10 years.

Now the Vatican has issued a statement that claims that using drugs 
is "anti-life" and "so-called harm reduction leads to liberalisation 
of the use of drugs". The Vatican's last-minute intervention appears 
to have led to Italy withdrawing from the EU consensus on the issue 
and thrown the talks over the declaration into confusion.

In 1998, the declaration of intent was "a drug-free world - we can do 
it", which critics claimed was unrealistic and did not address the 
complex nature of drug treatment. In favour of including support for 
a harm reduction clause are most EU countries, Brazil and other Latin 
American countries, Australia and New Zealand. They argue that some 
commitment to tackling HIV and addiction through needle exchange 
programmes and methadone and other drugs should be included. Opposed 
to this are the US, Russia and Japan. The US position has been that 
such inclusion sends the wrong message, although there have been 
indications a more liberal policy might be adopted under Barack Obama.

"By making a statement against harm reduction, the Vatican has 
indicated that its moral objection to drug use is more important than 
its commitment to the sanctity of life," said Release, the UK-based 
drugs and legal advice charity.

"If the Vatican is allowed to influence the UN to adopt a naive and 
ineffective drug policy, it will needlessly lead to the increased 
spread of blood-borne viruses and the death of thousands more people 
from HIV/Aids."

Release argues that drug treatment programmes are vital for people 
suffering from HIV/Aids and that not to accept this will put their 
lives at risk. "Needle and syringe exchange programmes have 
significantly contributed to the reduction of HIV transmission among 
people who use drugs," it said.

A spokesman for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) confirmed 
last night that "there are still differences of opinion" over the statement.

Other drug charities and foundations have also been critical of the 
Vatican's move. Mike Trace, chairman of the International Drug Policy 
Consortium, said: "Progressive governments, including the UK, are now 
faced with the dilemma of trying to rescue reasonable support for 
harm reduction or not sign the declaration."

Antonio Costa, the head of UNODC, has claimed harm reduction has been 
appropriated by "a vocal minority". He said in a speech last 
November: "This kind of harm reduction can prevent the spread of 
blood-borne diseases. But it does not solve the underlying problem, 
and can even perpetuate drug use." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake