October 14, 2002
Press Release
European
Parliament used to undermine UN Conventions on Drugs and
the Convention on the Rights of the Child
On October 15-16, the European Parliament will be used to
undermine the UN Conventions on Drugs (1961, 1971 and 1988)
and the unanimous decisions of the 1998 UNGASS (United Nations
General Assembly Special Session on Drugs in June 1998)
to decrease supply of and demand for drugs. The conference,
'Out from the shadows, ending prohibition in the 21st century
- For the antiprohibitionist reform of the UN Convention
on Drugs' organised by notorious advocates of drug legalisation,
including PAA (Parliamentarians for Antiprohibitionist Action),
TRP (the Transnational Radical Party), and IAL (the International
Antiprohibitionist League), will also be used to undermine
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The organisers have clearly declared their purpose for the conference: Ending prohibition to use illicit drugs, including cannabis.
The idea is the same as when Dutch MEP Hedy d'Ancona in the European Parliament tried to promote her notorious report to liberalise illicit drugs a few years ago. By trying to promote pro-drug ideas in a political setting, pro-drug advocates obviously hope, once again, to make their disastrous agenda look decent.
It is outrageous that an assembly representing millions of European taxpayers will be used and manipulated by a group of well-known pro-drug advocates to promote drug use. The scourge of illicit drugs is too serious to be handled by individuals who are not prepared to take the full responsibility for present and future generations.
The purpose of the conference - to end prohibition - is a serious violation of the contents of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially Article 33: "States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances."
By ratifying the Convention, national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community.
The purpose of the conference - to end prohibition - seriously violates the contents of the UN Convention on Drugs, which are aiming at protecting citizens worldwide from the scourge of drugs. The devastating consequences pro-drug amendments to any or all of the UN Conventions on Drugs would bring about should not be underestimated but, on the contrary, should make any responsible politician worried about the future, safety and health of all citizens in their countries, and especially young people.
We, the undersigned, urge all Members of the European Parliament, who have a shared responsibility for the well-being, safety and health of European citizens,
- to fully realise the implications of that responsibility
- to counteract any measure to undermine the UN Convention on Drugs and the UN
- Convention on the Rights of the Child
- to dissociate themselves from efforts aiming at facilitate use of illicit drugs
We, the undersigned, represent millions of European citizens, who will not accept that our elected politicians get involved in pro-drug activities in the European Parliament, aiming at liberalising drug laws and thereby facilitating use of illicit drugs.
Brussels October 14, 2002
Europe Against Drugs (EURAD)
European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD)
HNN International Centre (HNN)
National Swedish Parents Anti-Narcotic Association (RFMN)
Swedish Immigrants Against Drugs (SIMON)
The National Association for a Drug Free Society (RNS)
The Nordic Countries Against Drugs (NMN)
The Sobriety Movement in Stockholm (NSO)
The Swedish Carnegie Institute
