Statement by India under Agenda Item 2 – Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of every one of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, during the 56^th Session of the Human Rights Council (18 June – 12 July 2024), delivered by Ms. Suman Sonkar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India to UN, Geneva, 24 June 2024

Mr. President

1. 1. We thank the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of her report and take note of the conclusions and recommendations made on the role of harm reduction in mitigating the impact of drug-use disorders.

Mr. President

2. 2. The Government of India follows a multi-pronged approach to address the issue of drug use in India. Our policies recognise the role that harm reduction could play in reducing the adverse health, social, and economic consequences of the drug use and drug use disorders. Provisions pertaining to harm reduction is inbuilt in our Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
   
   
3. 3. Similarly, our National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy 2002 supports harm reduction as one of the key strategies to prevent HIV among Injecting Drug Users (IDU). The harm reduction programme under NACO, works extensively with marginalised communities on access to harm reduction services, with the rights-based approach to promote well-being of vulnerable groups and those who have been traditionally underserved, including groups like women, youth and transgender persons who use drugs.
   
   
4. 4. India remains committed to deliver highest standards of health for the well/being of all its people, especially to those who are most vulnerable and marginalised.

I thank you.