December 2009

Misleading and Misguided: Mandatory Prison Sentences for Drug Offences

The Canadian federal government is again proposing mandatory sentences and stiff penalties for certain drug offences. But evidence shows that they only worsen an already dire situation. Incarcerating people who inject drugs or those who are vulnerable to such a practice contributes to Canada’s worsening HIV/HCV epidemic.

The Canadian federal government is again proposing mandatory sentences and stiff penalties for certain drug offences. But evidence shows that they only worsen an already dire situation. Incarcerating people who inject drugs or those who are vulnerable to such a practice contributes to Canada’s worsening HIV/HCV epidemic. Along with over 62 witnesses who made submissions or testified before the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network made its case before the Senate with this submission.
Added on 22 December 2009

How the UN sets back harm reduction in Hungary

Hungary is to adopt a progressive national drug strategy in December 2009, but the opposition is using the UN Political Declaration to prevent its adoption.

Hungary is to adopt a progressive national drug strategy in December 2009, but the opposition is using the UN Political Declaration to prevent its adoption.
Added on 22 December 2009

Call for Abstracts - XVIII International AIDS Conference

The XVIII International AIDS Conference now welcomes the submission of abstracts for original contribution to the field in six programme tracks. The full call for abstracts and submission guidelines are available here and additional information on the programme tracks is available here. Abstract submissions close on 10 February 2010.

The XVIII International AIDS Conference now welcomes the submission of abstracts for original contributions.
Added on 22 December 2009

Drug trafficking discussed at UN Security Council

The Security Council, on 8 December, focused on the issue of drug trafficking as a threat to international peace and security. Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Bedouma Alain Yoda, whose country holds the Presidency of the Council in December, stressed the "devastating impact" of drug trafficking, particularly in Africa.

The Security Council, on 8 December, focused on the issue of drug trafficking as a threat to international peace and security. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in his speech that "drug trafficking is evolving into an ever graver threat that is affecting all regions of the world".
Added on 22 December 2009

Polish Prisons: Improving Access to Substitution Treatment

Recommendations for improving access to substitution treatment in Polish prisons have been signed. This step forward was made in early December at a conference co-hosted by the Penitentiary Service, the Social AIDS Committee and Open Society Institute’s Global Drug Policy program. The recommendations are a follow-up to a round table which took place in May, attended by Poland’s Minister of Justice, past and present Penitentiary Service directors, politicians, physicians, and NGO representatives.

Recommendations for improving access to substitution treatment in Polish prisons have been signed. This step forward was made in early December at a conference co-hosted by the Penitentiary Service, the Social AIDS Committee and Open Society Institute’s Global Drug Policy program.
Added on 22 December 2009

Call for authors: Encyclopedia of Drug Policy

Academic editorial contributors are being sought for the Encyclopedia of Drug Policy, a new 2-volume reference to be published in 2011 by SAGE Publications.

Academic editorial contributors are being sought for the Encyclopedia of Drug Policy, a new 2-volume reference to be published in 2011 by SAGE Publications.
Added on 22 December 2009

Thailand Convicts Police for Brutality in Anti-Drug Campaign

Human Rights Watch has noted that the conviction of eight police officers for crimes in anti-drug operations should be a catalyst for the Thai government to end police abuses. 

On December 8, 2009, the Talingchan district court in Bangkok found Police Captain Nat Chonnithiwanit and seven other members of the 41st Border Patrol Police (BPP) unit guilty of assault with weapons, illegal detention, and extortion. Each was sentenced to five years of imprisonment.

Human Rights Watch has noted that the conviction of eight police officers for crimes in anti-drug operations should be a catalyst for the Thai government to end police abuses. On December 8, 2009, the Talingchan district court in Bangkok found Police Captain Nat Chonnithiwanit and seven other members of the 41st Border Patrol Police (BPP) unit guilty of assault with weapons, illegal detention, and extortion. Each was sentenced to five years of imprisonment.
Added on 22 December 2009

UN Committee Calls on Poland to scale up access to substitute drug dependence treatment and ARV to drug users

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has urged Poland to scale up access to antiretroviral therapy for drug users living with HIV and to increase the availability of substitute drug dependence treatment, especially for people in detention. The recommendations come on the heels of advocacy from IHRA and the Open Society Institute.

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has urged Poland to scale up access to antiretroviral therapy for drug users living with HIV and to increase the availability of substitute drug dependence treatment, especially for people in detention.
Added on 22 December 2009

Apply Now - International AIDS Society and National Institute on Drug Abuse Fellowship Programme Encouraging HIV and Drug Use Research

 
With the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the International AIDS Society (IAS) has established a research fellowship programme, with the goal of contributing to advances in the scientific understanding of drug use and HIV, while fostering multinational research. Applications from a wide range of disciplines including social, behavioral, political, clinical, biomedical, mathematical sciences or others are accepted.

With the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the International AIDS Society (IAS) has established a research fellowship programme, with the goal of contributing to advances in the scientific understanding of drug use and HIV, while fostering multinational research. Applications from a wide range of disciplines including social, behavioral, political, clinical, biomedical, mathematical sciences or others are accepted.
Added on 22 December 2009

International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy launched

The International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy was lauched on Human Rights Day 2009 (10th December). The Centre is dedicated to developing and promoting innovative and high quality legal and human rights scholarship on issues related to drug laws, policy and enforcement.

The International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy was lauched on Human Rights Day 2009 (10th December). The Centre is dedicated to developing and promoting innovative and high quality legal and human rights scholarship on issues related to drug laws, policy and enforcement.
Added on 14 December 2009