Written question asked by Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 15 November 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 November 2011. It was answered by James Brokenshire (Conservative) on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 on behalf of the Home Office.

Bolivia: Drugs

Question: (2) if she will take into account (a) the right of Bolivia to make use of article 14 of the 1988 UN Convention on Drug Trafficking stating that signatories shall take due account of traditional licit uses, where there is historic evidence of such use and (b) Bolivia's need to adhere to its constitution and the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People in her response to the Bolivian application for re-accession to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs with a reservation on coca leaf.

Answer: The Government are currently considering how to respond to Bolivia's withdrawal from and forthcoming reapplication to the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 and in doing so is taking into account all relevant international agreements, including the UN convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People 2007, as well as the Bolivian Constitution. The Government are also assessing the effect of all possible outcomes on the maintenance of the convention.

Secondary information