News

First MENAHRA Regional Conference is a success
The First Regional Harm Reduction Conference of the Middle East and North Africa region was a great success.  The event hosted by Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA) took place in Beirut from the 16th to the 18th November 2009.  Nearly 200 participants attended from 25 countries across (and outside of) the region. There were three full days of engaging sessions, presentations and discussions – including more than 40 speakers on a range of different topics.  IDPC co-organised a session with the International Harm Reduction Association, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Alliance Ukraine.  Read more.

Global Fund extension in Russia will save thousands of young lives
IAS and IHRA welcome the announcement from the Global Fund that it will extend its funding of HIV prevention programmes in Russia for another two years at a cost of US$24 million. The extension will save thousands of lives in a country where more than 1 million people are living with HIV and approximately 1.8 million people inject drugs.   Read more.

Harm reduction advocates express concern at UNAIDS Executive Director's speech
Harm reduction, human rights and drug user advocacy groups have sent a letter to UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe expressing their strong concern about his speech at the opening plenary of the Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS Conference. Mr Sidibe has responded reaffirming UNAIDS support for comprehensive harm reduction and decriminalisation of people who use drugs.  

U.S. Congress to Take Up New Drug Policy Commission
On October 15th 2009, a subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives approved draft legislation that could represent a significant step toward a serious - and overdue - reconsideration of U.S. drug control policy.  The bill, introduced with bi-partisan support, would create an independent "Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission" to recommend how to improve U.S. domestic and international drug control policies, an implicit recognition that the current drug-control strategy is not working.  WOLA's Senior Associate for Drug Policy, John Walsh, testified at a hearing on "Assessing U.S. Drug Policy in the Americas" at the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. Read the testimony.

AIDS and Law Exchange: Sharing information and knowledge on HIV, the law and human rights
This new online resource, AIDSLEX (the AIDS and Law Exchange) gives concrete meaning to a “rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS”. The web portal is a tool for activists, community organizations, researchers, policy-makers, journalists, health workers and anyone who seeks quick and easy access to a wide range of resources about HIV, human rights and the law.  AIDSLEX has a specific section on Drug Use and Drug Policy.

Correlation seeks examples and experience of best practice in harm reduction
The European network Correlation is currently drafting a manual on harm reduction methodologies. Correlation is therefore seeking projects and organisations in Europe and abroad with experience in the field of outreach/early intervention AND/OR peer support for drug users. Relevant agencies would receive a questionnaire to gather information on the following areas: results of this work, examples of good practice, lessons learned, and references.  For more information, please contact Correlation.

Release launches its new Nice People Take Drugs playing cards 
Release has launched a deck of playing cards as part of the Nice People Take Drugs campaign. The campaign aims to bring about greater public debate about how we control drugs in our society. The deck of cards features politicians from around the world who have admitted to their drug use, and who continue to take a hypocritical position by being tough on drug users. From Cameron to Obama; Boris to Arni; Sarah Palin to Jacqui Smith – it’s amazing how easy it was to locate 52 politicians. Release is now selling these cards to the public – if you would like to buy a pack of cards click here.


Latest publications

TNI Briefing - Legislative Innovation in Drug Policy
This briefing summarises good practices in legislative reforms around the world, representing steps away from a repressive zero-tolerance model towards a more evidence-based and humane drug policy. The examples provide lessons learned in practice about less punitive approaches and their impact on levels of drug use and drug-related harm to the individual and society. Evidence suggests that legislation lessening criminalization combined with shifting resources from law enforcement and incarceration to prevention, treatment and harm reduction is more effective in reducing drug-related problems. Read the briefing.

Mexico: The Law Against Small-Scale Drug Dealing - A Doubtful Venture
In August 2009, Mexico adopted a new law against small-scale drug dealing.  The new law undoubtedly represents some significant advances, at least theoretically, in key subjects such as the recognising of and distinguishing between user, drug addict and dealer, which could open a door to the development of the rights of consumers. The law also represents the possibility of initiating a public debate on the subject of drugs consumer rights.  This TNI briefing deals with the negative and positive aspects of this new law.  Read the briefing.

The Effects of Drug User Registration Laws on People’s Rights and Health. Key Findings from Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine
Recent research has revealed that drug user registration laws in the former Soviet Union unfairly restrict the civil rights of drug users and impede their access to drug treatment. These laws, legacies of Soviet-era legislation emphasizing control over cure, also create conditions conducive to police corruption and abuse. This report, from the Open Society Institute’s International Harm Reduction Development Program, presents the findings of three groundbreaking studies conducted in Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine that investigate the impact that drug user registration laws have on the lives of drug users and the quality of public health policy.

Women, Harm Reduction and HIV. Key Findings from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine
Women who use drugs face a dual challenge: they are more vulnerable to both sexually and injection-transmitted HIV infection than male drug users, and they encounter greater obstacles to accessing the services they need. This report, by the Open Society Institute’s International Harm Reduction Development Program, summarizes the results of field assessments of women’s access to harm reduction, antiretroviral, and reproductive health services in five countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine.

Buyer Beware? Global Fund Grants and Procurement of Harm Reduction Supplies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Support from the Global Fund has been instrumental in increasing the availability of harm reduction services and supplies, such as clean needles and syringes. However, harm reduction organizations in the region are confronting an influx of poor quality supplies that threatens the success of their programs. Improving the quality of supplies is an important step toward an effective and sustainable HIV response. This report, by the Open Society Institute’s Public Health Program, evaluates Global Fund grants and procurement practices in Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Tajikistan. In each country, needles and syringes have been procured that drug users do not find usable because, for example, they may be the wrong size or type. Read more. 

English Version of the Indonesian Narcotics Law
The Indonesia UNGASS Forum has translated the new narcotics law that was adopted by the Parliament in Jakarta in September 2009.  Advocates have highlighted that the new law violates basic human rights and constrains harm reduction efforts in the region.  Read the translation.

Submission to the UN Human Rights Council: Review of Kyrgyz Republic
This submission describes several key human rights priorities and provides recommendations for the Kyrgyz Republic to better respect, protect and fulfil human rights, consistent with its international legal obligations, in areas of particular relevance to effective response to HIV. In addition to the specific rights mentioned below, the recommendations herein all contribute to realizing enjoyment in the Kyrgyz Republic of the highest attainable standard of health, pursuant to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ratified by Kyrgyzstan.  This submission was prepared, on behalf of several civil society organisations including IDPC, by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.

Shoveling Water: War on drugs, War on people - a film by Witness for Peace
Journey to the heart of coca country where United States tax dollars have financed the aerial fumigation of 2.6 million acres of land in Colombia – the world's second most bio-diverse country.  See cropdusters target coca plants, the main ingredient of cocaine, with concentrated herbicide as part of the U.S. war on drugs.  Listen to people on the ground, hear about the impacts, and learn new ideas about how to solve this deadly problem. Watch this short film by Witness for Peace.

EMCDDA 2009 Annual Report
The European Monitoring Centre of Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCCDA) has published its annual report for 2009 on the state of the drugs problem in Europe. Headline findings included a general stability in levels of heroin and cocaine use, but continuing reduction in cannabis use amongst young people. An increasing complexity of consumption repertoires is apparent along with the market availability of a range of new substances. Polydrug use and EU the sentencing policies of EU countries are among the thematic issues discussed.

Upcoming events

TNI / APF 7th Informal Drug Policy Dialogue
10 - 12 December 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
TNI and APF will host the 7th Informal Drug Policy Dialogue, which will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.  The two-day dialogue in Amsterdam will focus on human rights and proportionality of sentences, the classification of substances and the agenda of the upcoming Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2010 (including the thematic debate). A briefing on the current developments of the Dutch drugs policy will also be part of the programme.  Participation is only possible on the basis of a personal invitation. Besides the representatives of European, South American and South East Asian countries, invitees also include representatives of the new US administration and IGOs.

Response Beyond Borders: 2nd Asian Consultation on the prevention of HIV-related to Drug Use
21 - 23 January 2010, Bangkok, Thailand 
Response beyond Borders is pleased to announce the Second Asian Consultation on the prevention of HIV related to Drug use.  This consultation is a follow up to the First Asian Consultation which was held in Goa in January 2008 and the three sub-regional workshops which were held in SE Asia, South Asia in 2008 and in Central Asia in September 09.  Read more.

Drugs and harm: a new agenda for a new government?
27 - 29 January 2010, Windsor, UK
Aimed at policy-makers, drug agencies, charities, academics, lawyers, and members of the police, this conference will examine the current drugs control system, its effectiveness, and potential improvements.  In the light of new research on the harm that drugs may cause to individuals and society, the conference will examine drugs in the context of family, education, welfare, mental illness, trafficking, crime, gang culture, and more.  Read more.

Harm Reduction 2010: IHRA’s 21st International Conference
25 – 29 April 2010, Liverpool, UK
The online registration and abstract submission systems for the International Harm Reduction Association’s 21st conference are now open. The deadline for abstract submission is November 1st, and the deadline for discounted ‘Early Bird’ payments is January 21st. As in previous years, this promises to be a ‘must-attend’ event for the harm reduction field, with a programme covering a huge range of topics. For 2010, the event is returning to the city which hosted the first conference back in 1990 – Liverpool, England. All of the latest information – including news, supporting organisations, scholarships, travel, visas, and an online accommodation booking service – are available on the conference website.