On December 10th we mark the anniversary of the signing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Each year BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner invites us to pause, reflect, and engage with pressing issues that shape our collective life.

Today I had the privilege of attending the Beyond the Headlines speaker series, hosted by B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender. The conversation brought together Lisa Lapointe, B.C.’s former chief coroner, and Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division, to explore one of the most urgent human rights challenges facing our province: the toxic drug crisis.

The speakers reminded us that the toxic drug crisis is not simply a matter of public health statistics or criminal justice debates. It is fundamentally a human rights issue. Every life lost to toxic drugs is a life denied dignity, safety, and belonging. To frame the crisis in human rights terms is to insist that compassion, equity, and justice must guide our response.

A recurring theme was the destructive power of stigma. Bias against people who use drugs, often rooted in ableism, classism, and racism, has contributed to inadequate social policy and a lack of evidence-based action. Stigma silences voices, marginalizes communities, and perpetuates cycles of harm. The conversation challenged us to recognize how our own assumptions may hinder meaningful change, and how dismantling stigma is itself an act of justice.

As I listened today, I could not ignore the backdrop of the B.C. government’s recent discussions about expanding involuntary treatment under the Mental Health Act. While presented as a response to the toxic drug crisis, this approach raises serious questions about both effectiveness and human rights. The truth is clear: “no and punishment” policies have been proven not to work in fixing the crisis. Criminalization and coercion have failed to reduce deaths or improve long-term health outcomes. In fact, involuntary treatment and incarceration are extremely expensive. Instead of pouring resources into punitive systems, we should be investing in what works. Building more treatment facilities so that care is accessible and available when people are ready. Speeding up wait times for voluntary treatment so that those who seek help are not turned away or left waiting in crisis. Expanding harm reduction services rooted in compassion and evidence to save lives and uphold dignity.

Harm reduction is the way forward. Rooted in community, compassion, and public health, harm reduction strategies such as safe supply, supervised consumption sites, and community-led supports offer real pathways to healing and belonging. Yet harm reduction alone cannot succeed without addressing the broader social determinants of health. Housing is the key. Without safe, stable, and affordable housing, people remain trapped in cycles of vulnerability. Housing provides the foundation for recovery, dignity, and belonging. It is not simply shelter. It is a human right, and it is central to any effective response to the toxic drug crisis.

Attending this conversation on Human Rights Day was both sobering and hopeful. Sobering, because the crisis continues to claim lives at an alarming rate. Hopeful, because voices of courage and compassion are leading us toward a different way, one that insists on dignity, equity, and belonging.

As communities of faith and conscience, we are invited to stand in solidarity with those most affected, to challenge stigma wherever we encounter it, and to advocate for responses that honor human rights. In doing so, we embody the spirit of the Declaration signed in 1948: that every person is entitled to life, dignity, housing, and freedom.