YouthRISE Nigeria and a coalition of youth-focused Civil Society Organizations through the SUPPORT DON’T PUNISH campaign have called for a youth-centered drug policy to further enhance youth development in Nigeria.
The organisation engaged with young development actors in a dialogue forum ‘The Youth Hangout’, in commemoration of the International Youth Day 2020 at the weekend.
This event was part of the ‘Support Don’t Punish’ global advocacy which calls for prioritization of health and reduction of drug-related harms in drug control. Among the issues discussed was the high human cost of the criminalization of drug users, which has overtime led to series of human rights abuses and public health crisis observed in the prevalence of HIV and viral Hepatitis among this population.
Somkene Okeke of Mentally Aware Nigeria, expressed disappointment over the ‘‘overreaching stigma and discrimination tended towards persons who use drugs, which has continually impaired accessibility to quality healthcare and support services’’.
This is emphasised in view of the strict moral foundation of the Nigerian society.
Other participants spoke about the challenges posed by the harsh realities of vulnerable and marginalised persons in the society.
Funke Adeoye, a lawyer and the Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars, stressed the importance of the criminal justice system to adopt alternatives to incarceration for simple and petty offences such as drug use.
Key among the recommendations from participants was the need to involve young people in the policy-making process and promote youth-centered drug policy in Nigeria.
