Vienna Declaration (drug policy)
The Vienna Declaration is a document calling for the United Nations to support drug policy reform, including drug decriminalization and a science-based approach to drug policy.[1]
History
One of its supporters was 2008 Nobel Laureate and International AIDS Society (IAS) Governing Council member Prof. Francoise Barré-Sinoussi, co-discoverer of HIV.[2] It was the official declaration of the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) which was held in Vienna, Austria, from July 18 to 23, 2010. The declaration was drafted by a team of international experts and initiated by several of the world’s leading HIV and drug policy scientific bodies: the International AIDS Society, the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP), and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.[citation needed] The Lancet published the text of the Vienna Declaration, together with a series of articles and comments on HIV in people who use drugs.[3]
In August 2010 the city of Toronto, Canada, became the first city in the world to formally endorse The Vienna Declaration,[4] following a 33-7 vote of the city council.[5]
References
- ^ Oleksyn, Veronika (June 28, 2010), Experts urge reform of global drug policy, WTOP
- ^ Henry Neondo (28 June 2010), Scientists Call for Reform of International Drug Policy, Africa Science News Service
- ^ HIV in people who use drugs The Lancet (Accessed 23 July 2010)
- ^ Paperny, Anna Mehler (August 26, 2010). "Toronto formally endorses harm reduction on drug use". Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ McKnight, Zoe (August 26, 2010). "Council votes to endorse decriminalization of drug use". National Post. Retrieved August 28, 2010.