LGBTQI+ – European Harm Reduction Network

5-5-5 Zone – We won’t be left behind! at AIDS 2024 conference: Call for Proposals

The European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) together with AIDS Action Europe (AAE) and Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN) are issuing this Call for Participation in “5-5-5 – We won’t be left behind!”, a networking zone in the Global Village at the 25th International AIDS Conference (22 July – 26 July 2024) in Munich, Germany.

Please carefully read the application details before submitting your application. Click here to submit your application: https://forms.office.com/e/bL7xzEMVvq

Application deadline 23 May 2024, 23:59 CET.

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide financial support for presenters or participants. Organisers must find their own funding for travel to Munich, Germany and all costs associated with participation in AIDS 2024. For more information about the conference visit: www.aids2024.org.

Entry to the Global Village is free and open to the public. It does not require the payment of a conference registration fee.

If you have any questions, please contact Chiara Longhi (chiara.longhi@eatg.org).

Objectives

The 5-5-5 – We won’t be left behind! zone will examine gaps and solutions to achieve the 95% targets, and how to reach the remaining 5% with a focus on the WHO European region (partners beyond the region are welcome to apply). There will be one theme per day with inspirational talks, presentations, and recaps on key learnings.

The objectives are:

To foster and strengthen cross-sectional and cross-country collaborations by providing a space for mutual-learning and networking together means for them.
To strengthen the inclusivity and participatory nature of HIV related organisations by consulting communities on what meaningful engagement.
To strengthen and sharpen advocacy initiatives, by providing a space to discuss communities’ advocacy priorities, challenges, and ways to work.

The zone will provide space for community organisations to organise sessions around 5 themes. The overarching themes will be to address stigma and discrimination, improve health outcomes of inadequately served populations and social justice.

Thematic days:

Mobility and HIV (21 July).
Sexuality and sex positive approaches (22 July).
Well-being, quality of life and mental health (23 July).
Substance use and harm reduction (24 July).
Blind spots in the HIV response (25 July).

Who can apply?

We are calling for participation from grassroots and national NGOs, community-based organisatios, networks, researchers, institutions, civil society organisations, human rights organisations, advocacy associations for people living with HIV and other social justice organisations, as well as leaders in the field of HIV from around the WHO European region to join us in advancing the above objectives. Partners beyond the region are welcome to apply.

In our networking zone, we are particularly looking for applications from people living with HIV and other co-infections, trans and gender-diverse people, migrants and people on who move, women, people who use drugs and people in prisons and closed settings.

Activities

We invite you to apply to host an activity related to one the thematic days (Mobility and HIV; Sexuality and sex positive approaches; Well-being, quality of life and mental health; Substance use and harm reduction; Blind spots in the HIV response) including, but not limited to, the following types:

Posters, presentations and discussions
Demonstrations of innovative advocacy or equity initiatives
Display of art projects
Presentations of new research findings and evidence
Interactive skills-building sessions and workshops
Film screenings and digital storytelling
Stories from community representatives
Presentation of policy papers and community resources
Roundtable discussions with key stakeholders in the field of HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs
Facilitated networking events

Amsterdam on the front line of HIV prevention, highlighting the importance of access to PrEP

The Mayor of Amsterdam and Mark Vermeulen, the director of Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland have just shared at the Fast-Track Cities 2023 conference* that Amsterdam had only 9 new HIV acquisitions last year and highlighted the importance of access to PrEP, trans-led services & sex worker community engagement.

As the figures show, 9 people were (estimated) infected with HIV in Amsterdam last year. According to the fund, the reason for the significant decrease in HIV acquisition is the increasing availability of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medicine that reduces the chances of getting HIV.

As Het Parool reports, these numbers have been rapidly declining for several years, with 66 people diagnosed with HIV in the city in 2021, compared to 128 in 2019. Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland stated that the reason for the achievement is additional financing to make the HIV prevention medicine PrEP accessible to more people. PrEP is available from the general practitioner or the Municipal Health Service for people who are at increased risk: for men who have sex with men, for trans men and trans women who have sex with men and for some sex workers.

*The Fast-Track Cities 2023 conference, taking place between 25-27 September in Amsterdam, gathers people living with HIV, health professionals, mayors and many other experts from more than 500 cities from all over the world to create a platform for sharing successes and best practices and address challenges in urban HIV, tuberculosis, and Hepatitis C responses. This year, inclusion in healthcare is the conference’s primary focus.

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

One Year of War in Ukraine

One year ago, Russia launched Europe’s biggest war since WWII. The toll of human suffering has been staggering – thousands have been killed, and more than 8 million Ukrainians fled abroad. Its social, econonomic and health effects have been felt in nearly everyone’s life.

However, conflicts don’t impact all people equally. War and violence exacerbate structural inequalities and discrimination. This last year, people who use drugs and other marginalised communities in Europe have disproportionately experienced its negative consequences. Equally, harm reduction organisations have been put to the test.

On this day, we remember and mourn all the victims of Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine and pay tribute to Ukrainian’s resilience and courage. Equally, we join governments, institutions, organisations and individuals across the world in demanding the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russia from the territory of Ukraine.

Until this moment comes, we will continue to #StandWithUkraine and work with our members, partners and friends to ensure that the health, safety and livelihood needs of people who use drugs and other underserved communities are met.

Minister of State Niall Collins commends Ana Liffey’s Mid West Team

Limerick County TD, Minister of State Niall Collins commends Ana Liffey’s Mid West Team in their tenth year of operations.

At the celebratory event, marking ten years of Ana Liffey Drug Project operating in the Mid West Region; Limerick County TD, Niall Collins the Minister of State for Skills and Further Education thanked the members of Ana Liffey’s Mid West Team for all their work over the past ten years; and particularly thanked Team Leader, Rachel O’Donoghue, and her team for the work they did throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Acknowledging that they were the only drugs outreach team working on the streets of Limerick City throughout the restrictions, the Minister of State said,

“When fear and uncertain was permeating society across Ireland; and no one knew what was going to happen…this small team adapted quickly, stayed out there, and continued to meet the needs of those they serve. Maintaining contact with people; busting myths about COVID-19; and providing people with equipment and advice to keep them as safe and healthy as could be. The net result of this work was not only the maintaining of engagement with the people the team already knew; but, also the creation of meaningful relationships with literally hundreds of other people. Well done to all involved!”

At the event the Minister of State:
• Welcomed the findings of the new research carried out by the University of Limerick: ‘Doing More – The Health and Social Impacts of Crack Cocaine use in Limerick City’. The research findings were presented for the first time by Dr Dervla Kelly at the event.
• Welcomed the allocation of funding from the State under the ‘Community Services Enhancement Fund’ to support Ana Liffey to employ two addiction outreach workers in the Mid West Region, one worker specialising in reaching, and case managing, members of the LGBTQI+ community; and the other worker with a similar function focussing on the Traveller Community.
• Launched Ana Liffey’s new mobile health unit purchased with a grant from the JP McManus Benevolent Fund. Referred to affectionately as the Mid West ‘VanaLiffey’ – this is a significant service development which helps to deliver harm reduction services to people in a flexible and accessible manner; and to reduce the risk of overdose, and other drug related harms, in Limerick City and across the Mid West.

At the event Tony Duffin CEO of Ana Liffey Drug Project said,

“Our Mid West team work in Limerick City and also travel significant distances across the region to support people with complex and multiple needs. We are very grateful to the JP McManus Benevolent Fund for their support to purchase and fit out a new mobile health unit! Fondly referred to as the Mid West ‘VanaLiffey’ the vehicle is designed to help us meet people where they are at. Whether in an urban setting or a rural setting, we now have a fit for purpose private space that can roll in and out of an area. My sincere thanks
to Minister of State Niall Collins for taking the time today to launch the vehicle for us.”

Reflections on the Constellations Festival

Correlation’s research officer Iga Jeziorska attended CONSTELLATIONS: An Online Festival on Drugs and Harm Reduction, offering insights and reflections from the 2 days of films, presentations, workshops and discussions.

During the festival, an update on the situation in Ukraine and activities of Polish harm reduction organisations supporting the refugee PWUD were discussed. The situation is difficult, but the harm reduction community works tirelessly. Despite the terrible context of the war, people remain motivated and services are working well. In Poland, unprecedented levels of unity and solidarity could be seen not only in harm reduction, but also in the society at large, when Polish citizens got highly mobilised to help Ukrainian neighbours fleeing from war.

Eurasian Harm Reduction Association [EHRA] has been operating a crowdfunding campaign to support Ukrainian PWUD and activitsts with individual financial support and humanitarian aid. If you are interested and able to support the cause, the bank details for donations are the following:

Name of account holder: Eurazijos žalos mažinimo asociacija

Purpose: Charitable donation for community in Ukraine

IBAN: LT92 7180 3000 0770 0220

Bank name: AB Šiaulių bankas

BIC/SWIFT: CBSBLT26

The festival also featured two advocacy videos on drug consumption rooms by Drugreporter and INPUD:

Metzineres: From Survival to Fighting Back about Barcelona’s safe haven for womxn who use drugs and experience(d) violence. Metzineres offers a “full-spectrum” harm reduction approach, encouraging the dreams and passions of the womxn using their services to create a feeling of encouragement where the womxn can safely share stories and survival methods.

The second video was The Wall of Shame about the history of crack use in Paris and the need for opening a safe consumption site for people using it. The documentary explores the barriers in place preventing the development of a safe consumption space, and addresses the stigma and racial discrimination surrounding crack consumption in Paris.

The videos were followed by a very interesting discussion on the needs of PWUD, racial and sexual discrimination, and (in)effective policies.

The videos were followed by a session on arbitrary detention of marginalised groups, involving Dr Miriam Estrada-Castillo from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, who explained the methods of work of the group and encouraged to submit the appeals to the Working Group if experienced arbitrary detention. Interestingly, the Working Group works on the basis of the international human rights conventions (also, civil and social rights conventions, and Convention against Torture), with national codes being of little interest. Any person who experienced arbitrary detention (or their family or friends) can submit an appeal to the Working Group, regardless of the duration of the detention, the time that passed since a person was detained, or whether they are already free. If the Working Group confirms the arbitrariness of the detention, a person is entitled to financial compensation from the government. The Working Group’s decisions are legally binding. You can read more about the mandate and operation of the Group here.

Finally, there was a roundtable with Patriic Gayle and Leila Reid about chemsex harm reduction in Greater London, with storytelling on how the grassroots service Gay Men’s Health Collective has finally acquired funding, discussion on the specificity of work with people engaging in chemsex, and presentation of a harm reduction package, which will be distributed in the city in 20.000 copies very soon.

Harm Reduction International Abstract Submission Open

Abstract submission for HR23 is now open.

The theme for HR23 is Strength in Solidarity, with a particular interest in how harm reduction intersects with other social justice movements.

A list of starting point ideas includes;

Indigenous, rural and underserved communities and harm reduction (particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ priorities for harm reduction)
Prisons/services/compulsory drug treatment/decarceration/abolition
Harm reduction and covid-19 (community-led responses, access to vaccines, enforcement & human rights violations)
Sex work and harm reduction
Racism/white supremacy/decolonising drug policy
Financing/funding harm reduction (sustainability and resilience in challenging environments/budget advocacy for harm reduction)
Death penalty for drug offences
Harm reduction as an ethic
Children, young people and adolescents
LGBTQI+ communities and harm reduction
Traditional and medicinal use of drugs
Current peer- and drug user-led services, programmes and organisations – advantages, challenges and history
Progress in harm reduction (DCRs/overdose prevention/harm reduction for stimulant users/integrated services/intersections with mental health)
Safer nightlife/party drug harm reduction/drug checking
Feminism and harm reduction
Harm reduction activism (successes/new strategies/social media tools)
Drugs and pleasure: beyond harm reduction
Harm reduction in crises (war/migration/humanitarian disasters/climate crisis/pandemics)
Civil disobedience and harm reduction (illicit provision of naloxone/unsanctioned DCRs/safe supply)
Tainted drug supplies/markets – their threat, and what they illustrate (E.g., fentanyl, benzo dope)

The call for abstracts will close at 23.59 BST on 30 September 2022.

More information, and how to apply here.

C-EHRN Podcast Series #3: How to support broader decriminalisation processes?

Following the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference opening session Drug Policy, Decriminalisation: The next global step for Europe?, we recorded the 2nd episode of C-EHRN Podcast Series. Our guests discussed why there are still too few countries taking the bold step of decriminalisation even though it is proven that it works?

Why are policymakers still addicted to prohibition, and what steps would be necessary to get them to rehab?

“I think the challenge is how different demographics of the population are involved in electoral politics. Older people with conservative backgrounds are more prominently voting, and younger people feel increasingly disillusioned with politics and struggle to engage. This creates a bias.” said Mat Southwell.

The Drug Policy Reform Session has centred on the decriminalisation of drugs. However, the work of Harm Reduction sits at the intersection of various movements. Many of the communities harm reductionists work with and belong to have also been criminalised through other legal frameworks: e. g. the criminalisation of sex work, migration, sexuality and reproduction (e.g. abortion) or poverty, just to name a few.

What are mutual aid practices and support across movements still necessary to support broader decriminalisation processes, in your opinion?

Our session guests were Jochen Schroot of VAD – the Flemish centre of expertise on alcohol and other drugs, Iga Jeziorska of Youth Organisations for Drug Action (YODA), Mat Southwell of European Network of People who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD), Maria Plotko of Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) and Olga Belyaeva of Eurasian Network of People Who Use Drugs (ENPUD).

Enjoy listening to their conversation, and share your thoughts with us!

Equality & Human Rights | The Core of Harm Reduction

Today is Human Rights Day. Every year on 10 December, Human Rights is observed worldwide, “to proclaim the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being.” As announced by the UN, the 2021 theme of the Day is EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights.

COVID-19 has started to be referred to as the inequality virus in recent times. Since the beginning of the pandemic, pre-existing inequalities have been exposed and exacerbated. As a response, international awareness days this year have emphasised the political, social, cultural and economic importance of upholding equity and human rights with renewed strength. An example of this has been the focus of the recently endorsed international World AIDS Day. In alignment with the 2030 Agenda, which is rich in slowly-but-surely approaching elimination goals, including AIDS, HIV, and deep-rooted forms of discrimination.

Today’s Human Rights Day is a crucial and opportune moment for human rights and drug policy reform movements for at least two reasons. On the one hand, it affirms that the war on drugs continues to sustain abusive policing, over-incarceration, coercion and punishment globally. On the other, it highlights the profoundly unequal outcomes of such repressive drug policies.

To mark Human Rights Day, the IDPC has shared its open letter to Ms Ghada Waly, Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with a call to reform drug policies that entrench inequality. The letter “issues a strong statement on International Human Rights Day, calling on states to change the drug laws, policies and practices that violate health and human rights, and entrench inequality.” Please read the letter and ask your organisation to sign.

However, before you decide to sign such a letter, perhaps you would like to inform yourself more in-depth about current discussions on decriminalisation policies? During the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference 2021, EHRC21, we had a lively session titled “Drug policy: decriminalisation – the next logical step for Europe?” in which we discussed what you might be asking yourself now. What are the arguments for decriminalisation? If criminalisation can improve public health and human rights drastically, what are some of the complex and challenging questions that remain? You can watch it here.

Also, remember to check the session titled “Mainstreaming Human Rights & Evidence-based Law Enforcement”. This EHRC21 session could also be a valuable look-back since in here essential discussions took place regarding the role that law enforcement agencies ought to have in addressing the needs of people who use drugs. Please watch it here.

Today also marks the end of the #16DayActivism Challenge, which started on the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women. The joint action by the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) and the Women and Harm Reduction International Network (WHRIN), addressing violence, stigma, and discrimination against women who use drugs, shares its concluding remarks today, on Human Rights Day. Please read them here.

Finally, today we are also launching the C-EHRN Podcast Series. To kick off our long-awaited podcast series’ idea, we held roundtable sessions during the EHRC21, talking to harm reductionists on several topics. We happily and excitedly present you with the first episode of the series about Human Rights.

For this session, we had four guests; Irena Molnar of ReGeneration, Machteld Busz of MainLINE, Sabrina Sanchez of ESWA and Aura Roig of Metzineres; four strong women representing the core of their work with boldness, kindness, sincerity and fire.
“We are the ones that avoid talking about human rights. Instead, we legitimise our services from a social control point of view. We need to break this cycle and indicate that we do our work for the health and well-being of the people.” said Aura Roig.

Would you agree? Do we tend to forget that everything we do is in the name of equal human rights?
Listen to the podcast here and share your opinion with us.

To stop or to stop? That is not the question. | International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

It is 2021. Like many other vital social issues that must have already been extinct, the shameful existence of violence against women, trans and non-binary people gives one shiver. Still, here we are, marking it with the hope of its elimination internationally.

25th of November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This year’s campaign, generated by United Nations – UN, focuses on amplifying the call for global action to bridge funding gaps. It ensures essential services for survivors of violence during the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on prevention and collecting data to improve life-saving services for women and girls.

Its theme is Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!. It marks the launch of the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 full days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates International Human Rights Day (10 December).

What is happening already?
Today, the “Sexism Free Night” Project has launched its European campaign BCRTEST – Bystander Chain Reaction Test, aiming to inspire action, encourage people without shaming or judging, and focus on fighting sexism with creativity and activism massive testing.

Have you taken a test yet? You may do so and share the cleverly developed campaign materials with your words alongside the hashtags #FunZone4All #BCRtest and #sexismfreenight.

The Euroasian Harm Reduction Association: EHRA has accepted the challenge and started their 16 days of activism campaign “Expected and unexpected risks of the #narcofeminism movement in the EECA region”.

What movement..?
The narcofeminism movement was born from the question of how painful and frightening it is to be a woman who uses psychoactive substances in combination with the experience of lack of focus on women for humane drug policies.

It is the response to discrimination, rights violations and injustice by activists from all over Europe.
Check out the details here.

Furthermore, the article “A World Beyond the War on Drugs” written by the Association for Women’sWomen’s Rights in Development (AWID) gives an excellent close look at the movement and its clear vision.

Also, the session: Girls power in HR2: womxn leadership to ensure access to Harm Reduction and Human Rights protection for womxn who use drugs with ReGeneration, EHRA, ENPUD and Metzineres, is highly insightful for you to exceed your knowledge on the topic and the current discussion on and around it.

Wonder how else you can show support in the name of solidarity, equality and humanity?
Why not download the campaign material and join the movement now

Moreover, read the statement pencilled down by the European Commission, mentioning gender-based cyber violence, the Istanbul convention, the use of sexual violence as a weapon and domestic violence. All violent in their own unique, secretive ways and all worrisome.

Last but not least, start acting now.
Act every day, everywhere.