In 1989, the Committee considered France’s initial report on the rights contained in articles 10-12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. During the session, the Committee sought information on drug addiction in France (paragraph 155). The representative of France commented on sentencing for drug offenses in France, noting that ‘the French criminal system was not just aimed at drug sellers or traffickers, since the way the traffic was organized… meant there was no clear distinction between traffickers and consumers’; however, there were methods of alleviating the penalties for drug consumers through application of an article of the Health Code (paragraph 157).
Citation: UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 'Consideration of the Report of France' (1989) CESCR E/1989/22