Public statement against the fast-tracking of Bill 37/2013 that alters the Drug Law
June 27, 2013
Protests have swept the streets of Brazil in recent weeks. The various demands of civil society around causes of collective interest demonstrate that the debate over what society wants is not the exclusive preserve of political parties, NGOs or organized social movements. The historic significance of recent events is undeniable.
CONTRABAND NO!
Bill 37 is not an issue from the streets
On the back of the protests, they want to rush through changes to the Drug Law that violate human rights
It is important to point out, however, that this healthy democratic participation in the public debate cannot be used as a justification for the Legislative Branch to hastily approve, with the support of the government, important bills without due debate with the various different actors involved, whether they are organized or not. We were all surprised by the recent decision to grant fast-track status to Bill No. 37/2013 (formerly Bill No 7663/2010) – which revises the National Drug Policy – “to respond to the demands for security” coming from the streets.
Bill 37/2013, under the pretext of updating Brazil’s drug legislation, strengthens the already failed drug policy and disregards the long struggles for improvements in public health, interrupting important breakthroughs in the anti-asylum, pro-citizenship and anti-torture policy. It will not only worsen the stigma faced by people who are suffering, but also reinforce the policy of mass incarceration of the poor, the criminalization of users who are arrested and charged as dealers, and the forced internment industry that is known to be ineffective as treatment, as well as give more priority to religious therapeutic centers that, subject to little oversight, are dangerous places where mistreatment occurs.
The bill significantly raises the costs for the State and, at the same time, drastically reduces respect for the individual rights of people in situations of vulnerability and suffering.
The bill in question does not represent the will of civil society, nor is it grounded in the best national and international practices on the subject. Indeed, the lower house of Congress, which has already passed the bill, disregarded all the statistical, technical, scientific and legal considerations that should guide the creation of any public policy. It also ignored the technical considerations of various government ministries, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of Human Rights, which to begin with completely rejected the bill. A calm debate on a bill of such importance is essential for the gap between the authorities and civil society to finally be reduced, and not widened, as will be the case if the debate is rushed.
Considering what has been expressed above, the undersigned organizations publicly demand the removal of the fast-track status from Bill 37/2013, and call for members of Congress and the Executive to act responsibly and affirm their declared commitment to democratic dialogue.
ABRASCO – Brazilian Collective Health Association
ABRASME – Brazilian Mental Health Association
ACAT – Christian Action for the Abolition of Torture
Lawyers without Borders Brazil
Justice and Human Rights Group – Jusdh
Brazilian Association of Social Studies on the Use of Psychoactive Drugs – ABESUP
Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals – ABGLT
Brazilian Multidisciplinary Association of Studies on Drugs – ABRAMD
Association for Prison Reform – ARP
Planta na Mente Carnival Block
Os Seareiros Shelter
CEBES – Brazilian Center for Studies on Health
CEBRID – Brazilian Center for Information on Psychotropic Drugs
Psychosocial Treatment Center of Canoinhas – CAPS I
É de Lei Community Center
Center for Studies on Security and Citizenship of Candido Mendes University
Center for Studies and Therapy on Drug Abuse – CETAD/UFBA
Reference Center for Childhood – INCERE/Ceará
Reference Center for Human Rights of the Federal University of Paraíba
Reference Center for Drugs and Associated Vulnerabilities/UnB
International Center for Research and Policy on Childhood – CIESPI/PUC-Rio
Active Ingredient Anti-Prohibition Group
Reviving Reason (DAR) Group
Planting Information Group
Brazilian Commission on Drugs and Democracy – CBDD
Conectas Human Rights
Federal Psychology Council – CFP
Federal Social Services Council – CFESS
National Health Council
Regional Psychology Council of Mato Grosso do Sul, 14th Region
Regional Social Services Council/Rio de Janeiro
DDH – Defenders of Human Rights
Dignitatis – Grassroots Technical Aid
Clínico Política team
School of Higher Education of the Public Defender’s Office of the State of Bahia
National Federation of Pharmacists
Intersectoral Drugs and Human Rights Forum of São Paulo
State Drugs and Human Rights Front/Paraíba
State Drugs and Human Rights Front/Rio de Janeiro
State Drugs and Human Rights Front/Rio Grande do Sul
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)
Interdisciplinary Group for Social Studies on Psychoactive Drugs – GIESP
Torture Never Again Group/Rio de Janeiro
IBCCRIM – Brazilian Criminal Sciences Institute
IDDD – Defense of the Right to Defense Institute
Igarapé Institute
Pro Bono Institute
Sedes Sapientiae Institute
Sou da Paz Institute – SDP
ITTC – Land, Employment and Citizenship Institute
Global Justice
Workers’ Party Youth – JPT
Marijuana March, Curitiba
Socialist Action and Identity Movement – MAIS PT
Change Movement
Movement for the Legalization of Marijuana
Psychoanalysis, Autism and Public Health Movement (MPASP)
Center for Advanced Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs – NEAAD/CETAD/UFBA
Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on Psychoactive Drugs (Neip)
Center for Studies, Research and Extension in Mental Health and Psychosocial Treatment – NEPS-UERJ
Center on the Prison Situation of the Public Defender’s Office of São Paulo
Pastoral Carcerária prison care service
PROAD – Program for the Guidance and Treatment of Drug Users of Unifesp
Transversions Project of the School of Social Services of UFRJ
Psicotropicus – Brazilian Center on Drug Policy
State Mental Health and Solidarity Economy Network/São Paulo
Criminal Justice Network
Pense Livre Network – for a drug policy that works
REDUC – Brazilian harm reduction and human rights network
RENILA – National Inter-Center Network of the Anti-Asylum Movement
ResPire Damage Reduction
SBNeC – Brazilian Society for Neuroscience and Behavior
UNE – National Union of Students
Viva Rio
Read more:
New Drug Law tougher on blacks and the poor
Conectas warns of the distortions in the bill to be voted tomorrow
