Support Don’t Punish 2017

June 26th is Support Don’t Punish

The harms being caused by the war on drugs can no longer be ignored. It is time to leave behind harmful politics, ideology and prejudice. It is time to prioritise the health and welfare of the affected populations, their families and communities. 

Support. Don’t Punish is a global advocacy campaign calling for better drug policies that prioritise public health and human rights. The campaign aims to promote drug policy reform, and to change laws and policies which impede access to harm reduction interventions.

The Support. Don’t Punish campaign aligns with the following key messages:

• The drug control system is broken and in need of reform
• People who use drugs should no longer be criminalised
• People involved in the drug trade at low levels, especially those involved for reasons of subsistence or coercion, should not face harsh or disproportionate punishments
• The death penalty should never be imposed for drug offences
• Drug policy in the next decade should focus on health and harm reduction
• By 2020, 10% of global resources expended on drug policies should be invested in public health and harm reduction.

On Monday June 26th 2017, Melbourne drug reform advocates and activists joined forces to put on an event at Kent Street. The speakers on the night were:

• Ash Blackwell (SSDP Australia Vice President)
• Nick Kent (SSDP Melbourne University President)
• Nevena Spirovska (High Alert & Welfair campaigns)
• Robbie van Dijk (Rationalists Society of Australia)
• Annie Madden (Co-founder of Harm Reduction Australia)
• Greg Denham (Executive Officer of Yarra Drug and Health Forum)

Watch the full video (two hours long) of the event below. The echoing sound problem is fixed about 15 minutes in to the broadcast.