The Committee issued these concluding observations after considering Russia’s fifth periodic report in 2011. In paragraph 29, the Committee notes continued concern at the increase in drug addiction in Russia and the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis, including by way of injecting drugs. The Committee also expresses concern at Russia’s lack of drug dependence treatment, opioid substitution therapy, and needle and syringe exchange programmes. The Committee then urges Russia ‘to apply a human rights-based approach to drug users’ in order to protect their right to health, and to provide support for harm reduction measures for drug users.
Citation: UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 'Concluding Observations on the Russian Federation' (2011) E/C.12/RUS/CO/5