This report was published by the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights in February 2013. The report by the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment focuses on certain forms of abuses, specifically in health-care settings that may amount to torture.
The report sets out the parameters for the applicability of the torture and ill treatment framework in health-care settings, as well as setting out specific forms of abuses taking place in health care settings.
The report specifically mentions drug policy under paragraphs A, C and E. Paragraph A looks at compulsory detention for medical conditions, which focuses on people who use drugs being subjected to withdrawal without medical assistance, ill treatment and other human rights abuses in compulsory mandated rehabilitation centres. Paragraph C addresses the issue of denial of pain treatment, such as inadequate access to medicines like morphine in a substantial amount of countries. Paragraph E specifically addresses marginalized groups, with a focus on people who use drugs in subsection 2, and how denial of effective drug treatment may amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Citation: Juan E. Méndez, 'Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment' (2013), A/HRC/22/53