Shaping Scotland’s Drug Policy Conference

After the conference, SDF organised a reception in honour of David Liddell, who has been SDF’s CEO for more than 30 years. David has cooperated with C-EHRN since 2007 and is a committed colleague and friend, who always advocated for the rights of People Who Use Drugs and their meaningful involvement in the development and implementation of services and drug policy. A valued friend and champion for harm reduction, he will be missed in Scotland, but also at the European level. David is followed up by Kirsten Horsburgh, a worthy successor who will continue the legacy, embracing its gains, but also breaking new ground.

Interview – Drug Consumption Rooms in European Cities

Roberto Pérez Gayo, our policy officer, has been asked to talk about drug consumption rooms in European cities in the Urban Trends section of Politico Europe’s Global Policy Lab.

Interested in the conversation? You can find it here.

New Publication: Contribution from the Civil Society Forum on Drugs to enhance the gender perspective into EU drug policy

The Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD), the expert committee of the European Commission in the field of drugs, has identified the enhancement of a gender perspective in EU drug policy as one of the emerging issues of drug policies. In contrast with the previous EU Drug Strategy and Action Plan, the current one seems to incorporate a gender-sensitive approach to all aspects of EU drug policies, which is a significant advancement. However, the recommendations contained in this analysis can help enhance the gender perspectives in the EU drug policy documents. Read the full analysis here.

Image: Freepik.com

Integrated and Person-Centered Care Models – New Publications

Two new publications on Integrated and Person-Centered Care Models are now available: ‘From “Patients” to “Co-Creators” of Interventions’ and the accompanying Policy Recommendations.

Integrated and person centred-care means putting people and communities, not diseases, at the centre of health systems and empowering people to take charge of their own health, rather than being passive recipients of services. Person-centered frameworks acknowledge the diversity of PWUD and provide a wide range of support services, addressing the negative impact of stigma and discrimination on access to health and social care, the dignity of PWUD and their right to participate in society fully.

A number of critical factors (ideological, political, structural, organizational and individual challenges) continue to hinder implementation of these models. The two publications investigate these challenges and provide policy and practice recommendations for person-centered models.

 

E-learning module on ChemSex for addiction professionals: the second phase of the ‘Learn Addiction’ project

E-learning module on ChemSex for addiction professionals: the second phase of the ‘Learn Addiction’ project

On 20th and 21st April 2023, delegates from the six organisations from six EU countries participating in the second phase of the ‘Learn Addiction’ project met in Berlin.

In this second phase of the ‘Learn Addiction’ project (February 2022 – January 2024), the six participating organisations are developing a e-learning module on ChemSex. This was decided based on the results from the European survey that the project partners carried out in 2021 to identify new training needs among drug professionals in the EU. 727 professionals from 24 countries participated in the survey and 48% asked for training on ChemSex.

During the meeting in Berlin, the delegates from the six partner organisations evaluated the feedback from addiction professionals from six EU countries who have been testing, during the last months, the first version of the online course on ChemSex. Based on their feedback, the project partners will implement the necessary improvements before the final publication of the new e-learning module on ChemSex, in December 2023, in seven languages (English, Spanish, Slovenian, Portuguese, Dutch, German and Czech) at www.learnaddiction.eu.

This second phase of the project ‘Learn Addiction’ is an initiative of UNAD -The Spanish Network of Addiction Organisations – in collaboration with: UTRIP -Institute for Research and Development- (Slovenia), DIANOVA (Portugal), SANANIM (Czech Republic), De Regenboog Groep (The Netherlands), and DAH -The German AIDS Service Organisation- (Germany). The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

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The ‘Learn Addiction’ project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The content of this press release is the sole responsibility of the project partners.

For further information on the ‘Learn Addiction’ project, please, contact us at info@learnaddiction.eu.
Find out more at www.learnaddiction.eu and follow us on:
Twitter: @AddictionLearn
Facebook: @LearnAddictionProject

EU Civil Society Forum on HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and Tuberculosis presents its Joint Statement at the EU Health Policy Platform Annual Meeting

The EU Health Policy Platform Annual Meeting took place on the 19th of April. The event was a hybrid conference with nearly 300 participants in Luxembourg and online. The first part of the event was dedicated to showcasing the Joint Statements prepared by the 2022 Thematic Networks, which culminate several months of exchange and research, each in a particular area of public health.

During the event, the Coordination Team of CSF on HIV/AIDS, VH & TB presented its Joint Statement, which explores outstanding challenges and good practices specific to dealing with these conditions. Special attention was brought to the importance of nurturing collaboration among stakeholders to ensure continuity of prevention, treatment and care and better quality of life for all people living with or most affected by HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis (especially drug-resistant) and sexually transmitted infections, including an adapted response for displaced and mobile people and other migrant populations. The statement also highlights how HIV, viral hepatitis (VH) and STIs are increasingly becoming concentrated in key and vulnerable populations and provides recommendations on how to overcome the stigma and discrimination against these key populations that are often at the intersection of multiple axes of marginalisation.

Additionally, three other Joint statements were presented:

  • Organisations across sectors call for stronger action against racism and discrimination to achieve health equity, by DisQo Anti-Discrimination & Health Equity – European Public Health Alliance, advocates for the improvement of public health by proactively eliminating institutional, structural, and interpersonal racism and discrimination that impact physical and mental health inequalities. The Joint Statement outlines five key priorities for constructively, collaboratively, and respectfully addressing the issue.
  • Mental Health in All Policies, by Mental Health Europe, emphasises the impacts of public policies on mental health determinants, strives to reduce mental health inequities, aims to highlight the opportunities offered by mental health to different policy areas, and reinforces the accountability of policymakers for mental health impacts.
  • Lastly, the Brunel Centre and Health Action International presented Navigating Health Inequalities in the EU through Artificial Intelligence, which considers how we may leverage AI-driven technologies to improve healthcare and wider (e.g. productivity) outcomes and reduce inequalities in the European Union (EU) whilst also ensuring that such inequalities are not augmented or magnified or even that new iterations of inequalities are not [re]created.

You can find the statements and presentations here.

FP Meeting / C-EHRN Monitoring 2023, Lisbon

C-EHRN hosted this year’s FP Meeting in Lisbon on 30 – 31 March and launched the Civil Society led Monitoring of Harm Reduction 2023 work plan with new opportunities for exchange, consultation and synergy to continue our shared goals of Networking, Monitoring, Capacity Building and Advocacy.

Notable updates include:

  • HR in Prison practical toolbox building on previous years’ activities and existing guidelines and good practices
  • Civil Society Involvement (CSI) Case Studies building on a tool developed as part of the CSFD Project, including quality standards and principles for meaningful CSI. Focus groups and interviews in four different countries/cities to assess the level and quality of CSI will be arranged.
  • Establish an advocacy network of HR allies (mayors, MEPs, national MPs, national drug coordinators and journalists) to support our advocacy activities, with the support of the UNITE Network of MPs.

The meeting was grouped by sessions:

  • ‘Monitoring 2023’ session covered the framework for the C-EHRN Monitoring 2023 as well as monitoring developments and modifications. This includes the addition of new FPs, bringing the number to 43. Modifications include for HR Essentials and Hepatitis C, which will remain collected via a survey; for the data collection of New Drug Trends; and the new addition of city reports; as well as the framework for the report on the mental health of harm reduction staff (FPs have been contacted for interviews).
  • ‘City Reports’ sessions presented the basic framework and content of the city reports and selection criteria for 5 pilot cities for 2023; as well as the aim of the reports: advocacy, data collection and capacity building. Volunteer cities include: Warsaw, Luxembourg, London, Cracow, Lille, Dublin, Amsterdam, Athens and Rome.
  • Monitoring and Advocacy sessions focused on the needs of FPs to support / improve advocacy and how C-EHRN has been using the Monitoring results for advocacy.
  • FGDs capacity building and New Drug Trends 2023 sessions introduced the ‘Monitoring New Drug Trends in 2023’ plan – a newly introduced section of the survey – as well as ran focus groups following the FP decision in Athens in 2022 to collect data on this topic via Focus Group Discussions (FGD) to ensure more quality and reliability of data. These sessions included  capacity building on how to run an FGD, which several FPs are currently organising.

The next Expert and Member Meeting takes place in Budapest on 4 – 5 December.

National Harm Reduction Networks – New Publications

We are excited to share two publications on National Harm Reduction Networks in Europe; Building Solidarity & Mutual Support and the accompanying Policy Recommendations.

 

National harm reduction networks are represented in 17 countries – with structures such as mission statements, steering committees, registered members and annual work plans. Roughly two-thirds of the existing networks receive funding for their operation, mostly from national or local authorities. The main activities of these networks are capacity building, advocacy, and networking. They also contribute to strengthening the organisation’s commitment to enhancing the linkage between European and national-level drug policies.

 

Many civil society organizations, such as various service providers and groups of people who use drugs, seek to shape the development of drug policy at both the national and international levels. The existence of networks brings numerous benefits and added value to the harm reduction field. Networks are best positioned to transmit to governments and decision-makers information on work carried out by organisations, including the needs and challenges faced by people who use drugs.

 

Read the full publication here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the Policy Recommendations here.

Vacatures Correlation

We have three new positions available in the Correlation team; Communications Officer, Research Support Officer & Project Support Officer.

 

C-EHRN is the international department of Stichting De Regenboog Groep. We aim for an inclusive Europe in which marginalised communities, such as people who use drugs, sex workers, migrants or people experiencing homelessness, have access to social and healthcare services without being discriminated against and stigmatised.

 

We are excited to expand our small team by introducing these new roles. All roles are based in Amsterdam.

 

We are an inclusive organisation, and we welcome all applications. We want our workforce to be truly representative of the communities we serve.

 

Read the full descriptions, with information on  how to apply, below;

Communications Officer

Research Support Officer

Project Support Officer

 

Please send your application, including your motivation letter and your cv to De Regenboog Groep, for the attention of Leo de Kam, PO box 10887, 1001 EW Amsterdam or sollicitatie@deregenboog.org.

You can contact Katrin Schiffer in case you would like to have more information: 06 21 29 59 47 or kschiffer@correlation-net.org.

Ukraine Snapshots Volume 2

The second volume of our Ukraine Snapshots publications, ‘Services for Ukrainian Refugees in De Regenboog Groep’, is now available.

 

Almost one year ago, we became witnesses of yet another war, this time within the European territory. The Dutch state and the municipality of Amsterdam, including De Regenboeg Groep, took immediate measures to provide safe spaces for the refugees fleeing Ukraine. As part of the ‘Ukraine Snapshots’ series of the Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network, this article aims to provide an overall picture of the services organised and offered by De Regenboog Groep to the Ukrainian refugees.

 

To get an insight into the situation on the front line, we interviewed the general coordinator of the shelters,Aukje Polder, Drop-In and Shelter Programme Coordinator at De Regenboog Groep and the on-site manager of the Botel shelter, Jarmo Berkhout; Daphne van Zetten , Aujke’s substitute, revised and updated the information close to the publication date. They shared valuable information and discussed their experience regarding how the system works and how the situation has unfolded so far.

 

Read the full publication here.