Support. Don’t Punish
Global Day of Action 2026
Resisting repression. Building care.
Across the world, communities continue to resist punitive drug policies and build alternatives rooted in care, dignity and justice.
While the ongoing backlash against harm reduction and decriminalisation is highly concerning, in many ways it is a conservative reaction to the important progress that we have contributed to achieve: expanding the range of and access to harm reduction services; sparking positive reforms to criminal legal systems; strengthening a movement that centres the power of grassroots mobilisation; and, for the second time in history, the recognition of ‘harm reduction’ by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
These positive shifts result from sustained organising, campaigning and advocacy at all levels of governance, from the local to the international. We all have a role to protect them, consolidate gains, and move the goalposts forward.
As the multilateral system is under strain and reactionary politics scapegoat people who use drugs and marginalised communities treated as disposable, collective and strategic action is urgent.
The Support. Don’t Punish 2026 Global Day of Action — commemorated around the 26th of June — is an opportunity to come together in transnational solidarity to show our strength, push back against harmful narratives, and connect with others to advance sustainable alternatives to the harmful ‘war on drugs’.
Organisations, community networks and grassroots groups worldwide are welcome to submit an ‘expression of interest’ to take part in this day of hope and resistance.
What we are looking for
We want to know what you are planning for the Global Day of Action, regardless of whether you need financial support!
In considering your activities, we encourage you to think of how they are:
- Strategic: with clear objectives, targets, and intended outcomes.
- Creative: thinking of diverse formats to engage communities, decisionmakers and the media.
- Collaborative: building alliances with and within different movements.
- Grounded in community leadership: meaningfully involving affected communities.
Actions under the Day have included advocacy at the parliamentary level, film discussions with local communities, press conferences and media training, talks and marches, digital campaigns, and many more! To get inspired, feel free to check out our reports for past days of action: 2025, 2024, 2023.
Who should apply
Our movement is global and diverse and we welcome expressions of interest from everyone who shares our purpose and will join the Global Day of Action!
That said, priority for financial support will be given to initiatives led and meaningfully involving communities most impacted by the ‘war on drugs’, including: people who use drugs, racialised communities, young people, LGBTQ+ communities, sex workers, people living with and affected by HIV, and groups based in the Global South.
Due to significant funding constraints, the attribution of small grants (averaging USD 400) will be highly limited and competitive in 2026, so we strongly encourage you to consider how to leverage local resources and organise activities that require minimal or no funding.
Submit your Expression of Interest
SUBMIT YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST HERE
You can also strengthen this work by donating to the campaign’s Small Grants Programme. All contributions go directly to support grassroots organising in the Global South, where funding is most limited and the harms of repression most severe.
We are ready. Join us!
Key dates & expected timeframes
- Call for Expressions of Interest opens: 26 March 2026
- Application deadline: 20 April 2026
- Assessment period: 27 April – 8 May 2026
- Notification of support: 11 – 14 May 2026
- Disbursement period: 18 May – 19 June 2026
- Global Day of Action: 26 June 2026
- Feedback submission period: July – August 2026
