This submission will provide a brief overview and suggestions for issues to be raised regarding the impact of the United Kingdom’s drug policy on the enjoyment of civil and political rights, focusing on:
1. The violation of the right to life of persons who use drugs (Article 6 ICCPR);
2. The violation of the right to life in the context of international cooperation (Article 6 ICCPR);
3. The violation of the right to fair trial due to the deprivation of free legal representation for person charged with criminal drug possession offences (Article 14 ICCPR);
4. The violation of the right to be free from arbitrary arrest and detention, as a result of the disproportionate and discriminatory exercise of stop and police search powers (Articles 9 and 26 ICCPR);
5. The violation of the rights to privacy and to equality and non-discrimination, as a result of strip searches (Articles 7, 17 and 26 ICCPR);
6. The violation of the right to equality and to non-discrimination in drug enforcement operations (Article 26 ICCPR).