Release and Harm Reduction International welcome the opportunity to submit information to the Human Rights Committee ahead of its adoption of the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR) for the review of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “United Kingdom”).

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).