November 2009

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, references.

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.
Added on 24 November 2009

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.

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.
Added on 24 November 2009

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.

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.
Added on 24 November 2009

U.S. Congress to Take Up New Drug Policy Commission

On October 15, 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.
Added on 24 November 2009

Harm reduction advocates express concern at UNAIDS Executive Director's speech

Representatives of harm reduction, human rights and drug user groups 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, which took place in late October in Moscow.

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.
Added on 23 November 2009

Global Fund Extension of HIV Prevention Programmes for People at High Risk for HIV in Russia Will Save Thousands of Young Lives

The International AIDS Society (IAS) and the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) today welcomed the announcement by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) to extend by two years its funding of HIV prevention programmes (known as the GLOBUS grant) in the Russian Federation at a cost of US$24 million. “This two-year extension will save thousands of lives,” said Robin Gorna, IAS Executive Director. “While this decision is very welcome, it is nevertheless a band-aid measure, not a long-term solution.

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.
Added on 23 November 2009