Mexico´s contribution to a public-health based approach to drug use at the multilateral level Mauricio Zapata Zaldívar Director for Crime, Corruption and Drugs Prevention Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico

In its origin, a dual purpose was established in the international drug control regime INTERNATIONAL FISCALIZATION OF SUBSTANCES/DRUGS MARKET CONTROL ACCESS FOR MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES

Learning lessons Demand reduction After decades of implementing policies that focused only on a prohibitionist and punitive approach, the dynamics of the phenomenon made it necessary to enrich the responses Reaching a true balance in the implementation and application of drug policies Implement more comprehensive policies that consider the individual and not the substance as the center of government action Supply reduction Demand reduction

Mexico´s position at UNGASS 2016 Development, public health and human rights Do not criminalize consumption Social damages caused by the illicit drug market Access to controlled substances Consistency with the UN system Common and shared responsibility Comprehensive prevention Proportionality of penalties and alternatives to imprisonment International cooperation against transnational organized crime Alignment to the 2030 Agenda

7 Axes of UNGASS 2016 recommendations Demand reduction, public health Availability of substances for medical and scientific purposes Supply reduction, law enforcement, judicial cooperation Human rights, focusing on children, youth and women communities Changes in trends, challenges and threats International cooperation, common and shared responsability Socio-economic and development issues

What have we achieved? Expand the focus on health and human rights Promote access to controlled substances for medical purposes Recognize negative social consequences and promote a comprehensive approach and development-oriented policies Strengthen international cooperation against transnational organized crime Improve the focus on crime prevention and consider incarceration as the last resort

The way forward in the region Share all experiences and lessons learned Initiate the implementation recommendations at a national level Strengthen dialogue between all sectors Improve the collection and comparability of data Key role of regional org. (such as CICAD) to implement national policies

A change of perspective Treat the affected population as worthy of rights of protection, support, inclusion and health services Promote emotional and social health Evidence based: The problem unevenly affects different populations due to social, economic and gender conditions Given that the consumption has increased rapidly in women and affects mostly children and youth, the recent National Strategy emphasizes the work with these populations

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Mexico’s remarks at the 62nd session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs A more humane application of the Law Make international cooperation more coherent and efficient A differentiation of the substances for control policy purposes Really recognize the problem as a public health issue beyond discourse Address the structural causes of violence and the spread of crime through a sustainable development approach

dgonunidas@sre.gob.mx mzapataz@sre.gob.mx Thank you Mauricio Zapata Zaldívar Director for Crime, Corruption and Drugs Prevention Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico dgonunidas@sre.gob.mx mzapataz@sre.gob.mx