Harm Reduction International (HRI) and Conectas Human Rights welcome the opportunity of contributing to the Special Rapporteur’s report on accountability for torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment (hereinafter: torture and ill-treatment).

This submission focuses on torture and ill-treatment committed in application of, or related to, drug control policies. Instances of torture and ill-treatment experienced by people who use or are suspected of using drugs or being involved in the drug market are many and diverse, as also denounced by this Rapporteur as well as other UN human rights mechanisms, and a full overview far exceeds the scope of this submission.