Tangier Hosts Press Conference on Drug Consumption Rights
On Monday, August 18, 2026, the city of Tangier held a significant press conference to introduce the "Tangier Call," a civil and human rights advocacy framework aimed at promoting a more equitable, effective, and humane approach to drug consumption issues in Morocco. This initiative seeks to ensure access to fundamental rights, particularly the rights to health and justice.
The event provided an opportunity to present key findings from a field study conducted across several Moroccan cities, including Tangier, Rabat, Fez, Tetouan, Chefchaouen, and Al Hoceima. Participants highlighted the persistent barriers that prevent drug users from accessing health services and legal protections, which exacerbates vulnerability and social exclusion among this population.
Speakers emphasized that the field data, along with insights from consultative meetings and roundtables held in Fez and Rabat, reveal ongoing stigma and discrimination within some healthcare facilities. These issues extend to contexts of arrest and institutional interactions, adversely affecting the trust that drug users have in public institutions and hindering their access to treatment. This can lead to delays in seeking help or even discontinuation of treatment altogether.
Challenges in Drug Policy and the Need for Reform
The participants also noted what they perceive as the continued dominance of punitive approaches in contrast to the limited activation of therapeutic and rehabilitative alternatives. They raised concerns regarding certain legal frameworks related to drug use and possession, arguing that such conditions necessitate legislative and institutional reforms that uphold the principles of dignity, fairness, and proportionality. Central to these reforms should be the protection of individuals and public health within the public policy framework.
Moreover, the discussion highlighted the precarious situation faced by women who use drugs, who are often subjected to stigma, violence, and exclusion. This vulnerability calls for a gender-sensitive approach in all related programs and interventions. Participants advocated for enhanced orientation towards treatment instead of punitive measures in cases permissible by law, alongside strengthening legal protections during detentions, expanding therapeutic alternatives, and increasing the availability of addiction care centers nationwide.
There was a strong call for the development of training programs for health, security, and judicial personnel, particularly in human rights, harm reduction, and combating stigma and discrimination, to improve institutional interactions with drug users.
The conference concluded that the "Tangier Call" aims to initiate a public dialogue and a reform trajectory concerning drug user policies in Morocco, emphasizing that the rights to health, justice, and human dignity should be fundamental pillars in the formulation and implementation of related public policies.
As reported by 9avril.ma.
