May 2009

Asian Parliamentarians Discuss Decriminalisation of Drug Use

With the support of UNAIDS, Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development organised a parliamentarians’ session at the International Harm Reduction Conference in Bangkok, Thailand on 21st April.

Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development organised a parliamentarians’ session at the International Harm Reduction Conference in Bangkok, Thailand on 21st April. They agreed that in addition to health services and harm reduction programmes, there needs to be an enabling legal environment in which drug users are treated humanely and are not at risk of abuse when they access these services.
Added on 16 May 2009

20th International Harm Reduction Conference in Bangkok, Thailand

Harm Reduction 2009 took place in Bangkok from April 20-24th and brought together around 1,000 delegates from 80 countries around the world.  ‘Harm reduction and human rights’ – the theme of the conference, was a running thread throughout the programme, providing delegates with both an understanding of human rights violations committed against drug users, the international system of human rights law as well as how this can be practically engaged with, in our work to advocate for change.  There were large numbers of delegates and speakers attending from Asian coun

Harm Reduction 2009 on 'harm reduction and human rights' took place in Bangkok from April 20-24th and brought together around 1,000 delegates from 80 countries around the world.
Added on 16 May 2009

IDPC Events at the Harm Reduction Conference in Bangkok, Thailand

IDPC held a post-CND strategy meeting in the margins of the IHRA conference, where present IDPC members met to reflect on the outcomes of the High Level Meeting in March in Vienna and discuss next steps for international advocacy.  IDPC also organised a Major Session at the conference on ‘The UN High Level Segment on Drug Control: Reflections and Implications for International Drug Policy’.

IDPC held a post-CND strategy meeting in the margins of the IHRA conference, where present IDPC members met to reflect on the outcomes of the High Level Meeting in March in Vienna and discuss next steps for international advocacy.
Added on 16 May 2009

Harm reduction in Taiwan – Blazing the trail in Asia

At the 19th International Harm Reduction Conference in Barcelona in 2008, a partnership between AHRN and CDC Taiwan was formed to showcase the Taiwanese experience with implementing and scaling up harm reduction services and policies. Indeed, Taiwan represents a unique space in Asia for harm reduction service delivery, both because of the impact of those services on HIV transmission and on crime rates, but also because of the political leadership from the highest levels of government.

AHRN and CDC Taiwan collaborated to produce a short film on harm reduction and services in Taiwan. The final project was launched at a special satellite session at the 20th International Harm Reduction Conference in Bangkok in April 2009.
Added on 16 May 2009

New IDPC project - A new role for law enforcement

Many law enforcement managers and analysts have come to the conclusion that strong action against drug production, distribution and use cannot be successful in eradicating drug markets, and that new strategies and approaches are needed. Consistent with general IDPC drug policy principles, we have circulated a concept paper that argues for a re-focusing of drug law enforcement action towards partnership work to reduce the health and social consequences, such as drug related crime or HIV/AIDS.

Read the IDPC concept paper on our new law enforcement project. Please forward to any senior law enforcement managers who may be supportive of the ideas put forward.
Added on 15 May 2009