The 2003 Vienna Declaration

We declare and affirm our view that the UN Conventions on Drugs (1961, 1971 and 1988) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (article 33) are extremely important tools to maintain a humane, restrictive drug policy and to counteract efforts to legalise drugs.

We affirm our view that it is of great importance to counteract any measure to undermine the UN Conventions on Drugs and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (article 33).

We affirm our view that drug abuse prevention, meaning the promotion of life without drug abuse should govern all drug strategies and policies.

We support prevention, treatment and enforcement/interdiction as the tenets of an effective drug policy.

We support laws and policies aimed at preventing drug abuse.

We oppose all strategies and policies that encourage, facilitate, enable or sustain drug abuse.

We support communities’ access to accurate knowledge and skills to combat drug abuse, and to that end we strongly encourage the media to assist in this mission and discourage the glorification of drug abuse.

We affirm our view that politicians, national governments and international organisations should dissociate themselves from efforts aiming at facilitate or legalise use of illicit drugs.

We affirm our view that the scourge of illicit drugs poses serious threats to any democratic society.

We support the application of the highest scientific standards and ethics in all research, evaluation and application in the formulation of policies, prevention and treatment strategies.

We seek prompt and coordinated action at local, national and international levels to achieve the goals of this Declaration and invite others to join us in this mission.

SIGN THE DECLARATION

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