A new report by Acción Andina – Bolivia and the feminist coalition Programa Libertas documents torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment linked to the implementation of drug policy in Bolivia. Drawing on a decade of socio-legal research, casework, and testimonies from affected individuals, the report examines abuses experienced by people who use drugs, people accused of low-level drug offenses, and coca growers from Los Yungas in La Paz.

The publication documents patterns of violence during police operations and in detention facilities, prisons, and so-called “rehabilitation centers,” highlighting the racial, socioeconomic, and gendered dimensions of these abuses. It also underscores the widespread impunity surrounding such practices, as well as the lack of justice, care, and reparations available to survivors.

The findings were submitted to the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture ahead of its evaluation visit to Bolivia in December 2024.

Read the full report in English and Spanish