In a significant call to action, 70 international organizations, led by Amnesty International, have united to urge the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) to abolish the death penalty in drug-related cases. This plea aligns with the principles of human rights and the inherent right to life, highlighted against the backdrop of the upcoming International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The collective statement, which includes endorsements from the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, StoptheDrugWar.org, and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, points to a distressing retention of the death penalty for drug offenses in 34 countries. Notably, executions have recently been documented in Iran, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and China. This practice stands in stark contrast to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which mandates that the death penalty should be reserved only for the "most serious crimes."

The urgency of this issue is underscored by recent legislative changes in Vietnam, where the death penalty for several offenses, including drug trafficking, has been abolished. However, this progress is shadowed by reports from Saudi Arabia, where executions for drug-related offenses have seen a significant increase since the start of 2025.

The joint statement was strategically released a day before June 26, which marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Established by the UN General Assembly in 1987, the day is intended to foster global cooperation in addressing drug-related challenges and to advocate for public health and preventive measures over punitive approaches.

The organizations emphasize that the observance of World Drug Day should not be seen as an endorsement of severe punitive measures but rather a promotion of public health strategies to mitigate drug abuse. This perspective aligns with the views of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), which stated in a 2023 UN report that "drug-related offences can never serve as the basis for the imposition of the death penalty."

As the global community approaches World Drug Day, the call from these 70 organizations serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing battle not just against drug abuse but also against inhumane punitive measures like the death penalty. The emphasis is clear: it is time for the international community to reassess and reform its approach towards drug-related offenses, focusing on rehabilitation and prevention rather than retribution.