Metzineres and IDPC Shadow Report for #CEDAW85
18/05/2023| Publications
Report presented at the 85th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
This report describes the situation of women and gender diverse people who use drugs and survive multiple situations of violence and vulnerability in Spain. It was prepared by Metzineres and the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). Our director, Aura Roig, had the opportunity to present a brief summary (video available in English, French, Chinese and Spanish):
Information provided is based on research conducted by civil society organizations and official sources. The 435 participants of Metzineres have also provided their testimony, which has been systematized through our own database, along with indicators based on the elements that are important to them.
We examined the interconnected situations of vulnerability, multiple discriminations, and violations of rights that they endure: problems related to drug use, homelessness, sex work or sex for survival, migration experience and/or irregular administrative situations, mental health problems, violence, criminalization, etc. There are severe barriers to accessing social and health care networks, the drug addiction networks, and domestic violence networks, as well as the Spanish justice system itself.
The policies implemented by the State to date are insufficient to address this issue. It is imperative that immediate measures are taken in order to ensure their protection, adequate support, access to rights, and to end their criminalization.
We ask the Committee to urge the Government of Spain to adopt reasonable measures to eliminate the systematic discrimination, criminalization and violence suffered by women and gender diverse people who use drugs and are in multiple and interconnected situations of vulnerability.
