In a new report by the UN committee CESCR concerns have been raised over the criminalization of the personal use of illegal drugs in Sweden. It noted the limited availability of harm reduction interventions, which contributes to high death rates by overdose, as well as high transmission rates of HIV and Hepatitis-C among drug users.
As a recommendation, the committee urged Sweden to decriminalize drug use. It also suggested enhancing the availability, accessibility, and quality of harm reduction programs and specialized healthcare services available to drug users. This is aimed at addressing the public health aspects of drug use more effectively, rather than treating it primarily as a criminal issue.
The committee’s recommendations align with a broader global shift towards harm reduction and the decriminalization of drug use, emphasizing the importance of access to healthcare and support services over punitive measures.
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FN:s ESK-kommitté har publicerat sina rekommendationer till Sverige