Webinar Series | Strengthening Harm Reduction Advocacy Across Europe

Join us for a comprehensive webinar series, organised by C-EHRN in collaboration with the Rights Reporter Foundation! Designed for the focal points and members of our network, these sessions aim to bolster your advocacy skills and amplify your impact in the realm of harm reduction. Explore various aspects of advocacy, from understanding its importance to developing effective strategies. Each session offers insights to strengthen your advocacy toolkit.

Read about what we will cover in the four sessions and find the registration links below. Can’t attend all the sessions? Please note that joining only one of the sessions is also possible! You can register separately for each session through the respective link.

Webinar 1 – Harm Reduction Advocacy: Planning, Tools and Audiences
May 22, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Register here.

Advocacy is often a challenge for civil society organisations working in the field of harm reduction because of lack of know-how, capacities and resources. This webinar helps participants to gain a better understanding of what advocacy is: the art of influencing policy decision making. It explains how to plan and monitor advocacy activities. Various advocacy activities, tools and methods will be reviewed and discussed, according to their usefulness in influencing various groups of stakeholders in different contexts. In the second part of the webinar, participants will share their own on-the-ground experiences with advocacy in the field of drug policies, both successes and failures, and discuss lessons learnt.

Webinar 2 – Harm Reduction Video Advocacy
May 29, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Register here.

Online videos can reach out to a wide audience, mobilise people for a cause, and document best practices and/or human rights abuses. They can be used in public education, give voice to marginalised people, visualise research data and have the potential to go viral on social media. This webinar gives a short introduction to video advocacy, by presenting examples from the 17 years of work of Drugreporter, in the field of drug policy reform and harm reduction advocacy. The webinar will discuss the opportunities and challenges of video storytelling.

Webinar 3 – Meaningful Involvement of Civil Society
June 11, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Register here.

The meaningful involvement of civil society is now widely accepted in Europe as a crucial part of policy making. However, there is little or no consensus on what constitutes “meaningful” involvement. This webinar will present a new tool developed by the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs in 2022, the Quality Standards of Civil Society Involvement, and the findings of a focus group study to assess civil society involvement in four European countries (Hungary, Finland, Greece and Ireland). Participants will discuss the often opposing views on the role of civil society, the challenges and opportunities of civil society involvement in various political contexts at European, national and local levels. The webinar will address the worrying trend of shrinking space for civil society in Europe.

Webinar 4 – Fighting Disinformation and Moral Panics
June 18, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Register here.

Drug policies are often influenced by sensational media reporting that fuels moral panics about drugs and leads to the othering of people who use drugs. The spread of disinformation is a major barrier to drug policy reform, undermines basic norms and values like human rights and scapegoats civil society organisations. This webinar addresses strategies to fight disinformation in an age that is often characterised as post-truth. Participants will discuss what methods they use to educate the public about drugs and drug policies and how to defend civil society from politically motivated attacks.

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:

  1. To foster and strengthen cross-sectional and cross-country collaborations by providing a space for mutual-learning and networking together means for them.
  2. To strengthen the inclusivity and participatory nature of HIV related organisations by consulting communities on what meaningful engagement.
  3. 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:

  1. Mobility and HIV (21 July).
  2. Sexuality and sex positive approaches (22 July).
  3. Well-being, quality of life and mental health (23 July).
  4. Substance use and harm reduction (24 July).
  5. 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:

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

Honoring the Life of Tonny van Montfoort: An Obituary

With profound sadness, we share the news of the loss of our beloved colleague and friend, Tonny van Montfoort. Despite a long battle with illness, Tonny remained resilient and optimistic.

A steadfast supporter of C-EHRN, Tonny dedicated many years to actively participating in many of our activities. He was a passionate and tireless advocate for the rights of people who use drugs. Tonny was known for his sharp wit, critical thinking, unwavering commitment and a wonderful sense of humour. He was also kind-hearted and empathetic, always taking a personal interest in those around him with genuine empathy. 

 
Tonny’s presence and contributions will be greatly missed within the harm reduction community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. 

Recording – City Report Launch | Civil Society Monitoring of Harm Reduction in Europe

The video is the recording of the report launch webinar that took place on Tuesday, 9th April 2024.

The City Reports are the final segment of Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN)’s Civil Society-led Monitoring of Harm Reduction 2023 Data Report. These concise harm reduction ‘case studies’ highlight either innovative practices or urgent issues demanding immediate attention in five different European cities. The reports will serve as advocacy tools to engage decision makers at all levels, either by showcasing best practices or as an urgent call to action.

Panellists:

 

Following a new format, Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network’s Civil Society-led Monitoring of Harm Reduction in Europe 2023 Data Report is launched in 6 volumes: Hepatitis C Care, Essential Harm Reduction Services, New Drug Trends, Mental Health of Harm Reduction Staff, TEDI Reports and City Reports (Warsaw, Bălţi, Esch-sur-Alzette, London, Amsterdam). The Executive Summary can be accessed here.

Drug Policy Manifesto for the 2024 European Parliament Elections

For a drug policy that makes Europe safer, healthier, and more just

Despite billions spent in drug control, European drug policies have failed to protect the health and safety of our communities.

Drug use is reaching historical records. New substances are entering the EU market every year. War-on-drugs policies have been unable to stop the growing power of organised crime. Evidence shows that prevention, treatment, and harm reduction are necessary to save lives and protect our communities, but services for people who use drugs lack resources and political support.

The 2024 European elections must bring a paradigm shift. This manifesto lays down a vision for a pragmatic, innovative, and human rights-centred European drug policy that will deliver healthier and safer communities. We invite all European civil society organizations, parties, and candidates to endorse the following calls to action.

Together, we will build a drug policy that prepares Europe for the future.

#FutureDrugPolicyEU24

Open To Everyone, Initiated by Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network, NEWNet Enjoying Safer Nightlife.

 

SIGN AND DOWNLOAD THE MANIFESTO

Also in 🇫🇷, 🇨🇿, 🇮🇹, 🇪🇸, 🇩🇪, 🇭🇺, 🇷🇴, 🇱🇹, 🇪🇪, 🇲🇪.

 

The Principle of the Drug Policy Manifesto:

Ramp up investment in health and social care

Drug use in Europe is at record levels, and the growing presence of new psychoactive substances, including synthetic opioids, has raised the alarm. Law enforcement and drug control will not stop this new threat, just as they have failed in other regions of the world. To be prepared for the future, the EU institutions must prioritise support and funding for integrated health and care services that are proven to work. A focus on services that support, rather than punish, people who use drugs is necessary to save lives and keep communities safe.

EU drug policy must be rebalanced, ending the current prioritisation of law enforcement over health. The EU institutions must ramp up investment and support for selective and indicated prevention programmes, evidence-informed voluntary treatment, life-saving harm reduction (including HIV/AIDS and HCV prevention, opioid assisted treatment, take-home naloxone, drug checking services, and drug consumption rooms), and community-based and community-led services that can reach out to everyone in need.

Abandon war-on-drugs policies

It is time to abandon war-on-drugs policies that, despite costing billions, have failed to reduce the size of illegal drug markets, to curb the power of organised crime or to reduce violence. Policies and narratives that stigmatise and blame people who use drugs and marginalised communities must be replaced with interventions grounded in evidence, inclusion, and human rights.

To ensure an integrated, holistic, and intersectional approach to drugs, EU health bodies must have a pivotal role in shaping EU drug policy. Drug policy must be mainstreamed across social, health and economic policies, and not be left at the hands of law enforcement alone.

The EU institutions must mainstream an inclusive, human rights and gender-based approach to drugs, including an unequivocal support for the decriminalisation of people who use drugs as a measure to remove stigma and improve access to services.

The new EU Drugs Agency must create indicators that monitor the effectiveness and impact of current drug policy approaches such as crime prevention and demand and harm reduction, including on stigma, access to services, and human rights, and conduct more policy-oriented research. EU bodies mandated to uphold human rights, EU values and the rule of law must also be involved.

Ensure civil society and community participation

A safer and more effective drug policy requires the involvement of civil society organizations that work every day with communities, can reach out to vulnerable populations, and are best informed of new trends in drug markets. EU drug policy must reflect the principle ‘nothing about us without us’, involving first and foremost affected communities and people who use drugs.

Mechanisms for civil society participation in EU drug policy, including the Civil Society Forum on Drugs in the EU, should be appropriately funded, supported, and meaningfully consulted by the European Commission, the EU Drugs Agency, and all relevant EU institutions. They should include representatives of affected communities, including people who use drugs, young people, women, and those disproportionately affected by criminalisation, stigma, and discrimination.

Explore innovative approaches, including responsible regulation

A pragmatic drug policy requires exploring innovative approaches to drug markets, including the responsible regulation of drugs such as cannabis, as a key measure to protect the health and human rights of communities, and reduce the power of organized crime. The EU should facilitate these innovations, and monitor their impact on health, safety, and human rights.

European policy makers must ensure that European laws and policies facilitate the adoption of innovative approaches to drug markets, including responsible regulation. The EU Drugs Agency should monitor the impact of drug policies and regulation, to allow for evidence-informed policy making. This will support mutual learning, increase uptake of best practices, contribute to pragmatic solutions, and prepare Europe for the future.

Already signed by…

Politicians & Decision-Makers

BELGIUM:
Bart Staes (MEP, Flemish Greens – Groen)

Saskia Bricmont (MEP, Ecolo / Greens/EFA)

Estelle Ceulemans (MEP candidate, PS – Parti Socialiste)

Matthieu Liessens (MEP candidate, PS – Parti Socialiste)

Yvan Verougstraete (MEP candidate, Les Engagés)

 

FINLAND:
Merja Kyllonen (MEP, Left Alliance)

 

FRANCE:

Alexandre Feltz (Deputy Mayor, Strasbourg)

Dominique Broc (Member of the Mairie de Chenevelles City Council)

 

GERMANY:
Kirsten Kappert-Gonther (Member of national parliament, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)

 

IRELAND:
Luke Ming Flanagan (MEP, The Left group in the European Parliament)

Graham de Barra (MEP Candidate, Independent)

 

ITALY:

Massimiliano Smeriglio (MEP, Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra)

Luca Boccoli (MEP candidate, Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra)

Giuditta Pini (MEP candidate, Partito Democratico)

Andrea John Dejanaz (MEP candidate, Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra)

Luca Fella Trapanese (Councillor for Social Policies, City of Naples, Italy)    

Jacopo Rosatelli (Councillor for Health and Social Affairs, City of Turin, Italy)

Paolo Ticozzi (Member of the Venice City Council / Partito Democratico, Italy) 

 

LUXEMBOURG:
Clement Sven (Member of National Parliament, Luxembourg)

Daniel Silva (MEP candidate, Volt Luxembourg)

Philippe Schannes (MEP candidate, Volt Luxembourg)

Conny Jaroni (MEP candidate, Greens/EFA & Volt Europa)

 

MALTA:
Sandra Gauci (MEP candidate, ADPD Green Party, Malta)

Civil Society Organisations:

Almost 300 CSOs from the following countries have signed the Manifesto.

AUSTRIA:

Koje | taktisch klug

Students for Sensible Drug Policy International

InnovaDrug

Suchthilfe Wien

 

BELGIUM:
Modus Vivendi

European AIDS Treatment Group

Ex Aequo

Projet Lama centre psycho-médico-social

VAD

ARAS Romanian Association Against AIDS

Médecins du Monde Belgium - Dokters van de Wereld

Smart on Drugs

Free Clinic vzw

Odas Coordination

ASBL SOLAIX

ESPAS

CGG Noord-West-Vlaanderen

CAW de Kempen de Lange Gaank

Fedito wallonne

Gig (Health Promotion in Injecting Drug Use)

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA:
The Chronic Viral Hepatitis Patients Association - B18

 

BRAZIL:

Rede Brasileira De Redução de Danos e Direitos Humanos

Plataforma Brasileira de Política de Drogas

 

BULGARIA:

Dose of Love Association

 

CANADA:
CAPUD - Canadian Network of People Who Use Drugs

Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec

 

CATALUNYA:
Episteme. Investigació i Intervenció Social

Associacio Canaan-Pla De L'Estany

 

CROATIA:
Alternation Association

Life Quality Improvement Organisation FLIGHT

 

CZECHIA:
Asociace poskytovatelů adiktologických služeb, z.s.

SANANIM z.ú.

PREVENT 99, z.ú.

Kolpingovo dílo České republiky z.s.

Prostor plus, o.p.s.

Centrum sociálních služeb Praha

Association Of Social Care Providers Of Czechia

KOTEC o. p. s.

Středisko křesťanské pomoci Plzeň

Společnost Podané ruce, o.p.s.

Institut for Rational Addiction Policy (IRAP)

ANA, z.ú.

P-centrum, spolek

Kontaktní centrum  - víceúčelová drogová služba

Darmoděj z.ú.

Unie LZZ

Zařízení sociální intervence Kladno

CYPRUS:
RESET - Research and Education in Social Empowerment and Transformation

 

DENMARK:
HealthTeam for the Homeless and Health in Front

Brugernes Akademi

 

ESTONIA:
Estonian Association of People Using Psychotropic Substances "LUNEST"

Lunest

MTÜ Ööhaldjad

 

FINLAND:
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare

Humaania päihdepolitiikkaa ry

 

FRANCE:
Global commission on drug policy

RdR:RefletsduReel - Asud auto-support usagers de drogues

Fédération Addiction

AIDES

Association GrEID

Association Bus 31/32

ENCOD

ASUD

Sovape

NORML France

Forum Drugs Mediterranean-FAAAT

Techno Plus

CAARUD Lou Passagin

AEP

APSA 30

RdR:RefletsduReel

CSAPA BLANNAVES

Underground

FEDERATION ADDICTION

Association ITHAQUE

CSAPA BLANNAVES

Csapa OPPELIA

Sara Logisol

Nautilus RdR

Techno+

ithaque

Littoral Prévention Initiatives

Act Up Sud-Ouest

Nautilus

Freeparty

Addiction

Keep Smiling

CSAPA Soléa

Psychonaut

PlaySafe Paris, Paris LGBT

Culture Drogues

Psychonaut.fr

Afder.org & Old Timers Recovery un homme

Drogues et Société

L'Amicale RDR

Nouvelle Aube

Groupement Addiction Franche Comté

Health Without Barriers

Collectif Ensemble Limitons les Risques

Les Insoumis

Fédération addiction

SIDA Paroles 78

SOS Addictions

 

GEORGIA:
Eurasian Movement for the Right to Health in Prisons

 

GERMANY:
#MyBrainMyChoice Initiative

Fixpunkt e. V.

Akzept e.V. - Bundesverband für akzeptierende Drogenarbeit und humane Drogenpolitik

Basis - Beratung, Arbeit, Jugend und Kultur e.V.

Jugend und Kulturverein Halle e.V.

SONICS e.V.

Drug Scouts

Chill out e.V.

VIVID e.V.

Akzept e.V.

Audshilfe Dortund e. v.

Palette gGmbH

Integrative Drogenhilfe e.V.

Paritätischer Landesverband Hessen

IDH

BASIS-Projekt, basis&woge e.V.

Integrative Drogenhilfe e.V

Verein für Integration und Suchthilfe e.V.

Deutsche Aidshilfe

Aids Hilfe Frankfurt

 

GREECE:
Steps Non-Profit

PRAKSIS

Steps

PeerNUPS

Positive Voice

Self-organizing Initiatives for People who Use Drugs

 

HUNGARY:

Rights Reporter Foundation

INDIT Közalapítvány Bulisegély Szolgálat

Daath.hu - Hungarian Psychedelic Community

ELTE PPK; Behavioural Research Social Sciences and Services Ltd

Dát 2 Psy Help

Blue Point Drug Outpatient Centre

INDONESIA:
GAMMA Indonesia

 

ICELAND:
Matthildur, harm reduction organization

 

IRELAND:

Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign

Ana Liffey Drug Project

Help Not Harm

Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign

Rialto Community Drug Team

UISCE

Walkinstown Greenhills Resource Centre

Daish Project

Ballyfermot Advance Project CLG

Addiction Response Crumlin

Youth Workers Against Prohibition

RADE CLG

Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme

SURIA/Euronpud

 

ITALY:

LILA - Italyn League for Fighting AIDS

Forum Prävention - streetlife.bz

L' Isola di Arran

Forum Droghe

Parsec NGO

Lab57 - Alchemica, Bologna

NADIR ETS

LILA Onlus - Lega Italyna per la Lotta contro l'AIDS

L'isola di Arran ODV

Itanpud

ITANPUD APS

Itanpud

Itanpud

Chemical Sisters

Antigone onlus

CNCA - Coordinamento Nazionale Comunità di Accoglienza

ARCI

CGIL

ITARdD Itałian Harm Reduction Network

Gesco consorzio di cooperative sociali

la Società della Ragione

Substantia

 

LITHUANIA:
Eurasian harm reduction association (EHRA)

Support foundation "RIGRA"

Association of HIV affected women and their families

Support foundation "RIGRA"

Young Wave

NGO "Gilės sodas"

Coalition "I Can Live"

 

LUXEMBOURG:
4motion asbl. / PIPAPO

 

MALTA:
Harm Reduction Malta

Releaf Malta

MONTENEGRO:
NGO Juventas

Crnogorska mreža za smanjenje štete LINK / Montenegrin Harm Reduction Network LINK

 

NETHERLANDS:
Belangenvereniging Druggebruikers MDHG

Mainline

Legalize NL

LEAP NL

De Regenboog Groep

VOC (Union for the abolition of cannabis prohibition)

Harm Reduction Network/Trimbos Institute

 

NORWAY:

Association for Humane Drug Policy

Safer Youth

proLAR Nett

The Norwegian Association for Humane Drug Policy

 

POLAND:
PREKURSOR Foundation for Social Policy

Youth Organisations for Drug Action

 

PORTUGAL:
Médicos do Mundo

CASO

Kosmicare

MANAS/ GAT Portugal/ EuroNPUD

Associação Existências

Associação "Ninguém Pode Ficar Para Trás"- Porto Solidário 20

Acompanha, CRL

 

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA:
PULS COMUNITAR

 

ROMANIA:
ARAS - Romanian Association Against AIDS

Romanian Harm Reduction Network

Fundatia PARADA

Sens Pozitiv Association

ALIAT

 

SCOTLAND:

Scottish Drugs Forum

Crew 2000 Scotland

 

SERBIA:

Drug Policy Network South East Europe

NGO Re Generation

 

SLOVAKIA:
Odyseus

 

SLOVENIA:

Društvo SVIT Koper

Association SKUC

Društvo AREAL

Association DrogArt

Zveza NVO na področju drog in zasvojenosti

Association For Harm Reduction Stigma

 

SPAIN:
Governance Research Center - University of Salamanca

Asociación Stop SIDA

Metzineres SCCL

Kykeon Analytics

UNAD

Grupo de Trabajo sobre Tratamientos del VIH (gTt-VIH)

ICEERS - International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service

Sociedad Clínica de Endocannabinología (SCE)

ARAIS

Asociación Amaina

Asociación Proyecto Hogar

Colectivo De Prevención E Incorporación CEPA

Asocación Progestión

ALAT

Federación Andaluza ENLACE

Asociación Punto OMega

Asociaciación Bienestar y Desarrollo

Asociación para la Prevención y Estudio de las Adicciones (APRET)

Fundacion Erguete-Integracion

Asociación Noesso

Asociación Bidesari

Fundación Ambit Prevencio

Asociación DESAL

Kykeon Analytics

 

SWEDEN:
Safe Haven Sweden

 

SWITZERLAND:
Groupement Romand d'Études des Addictions, GREA

Infodrog

ARUD Suchtzentrum

 

UKRAINE:
Alliance For Public Health (Drugstore Project)

ГОЗахідний  Ресурсний центр Волна-Захід / Western Resource Center of All-Ukrainian Association of People with Drug Addiction

VOLNa всеукраїнське об'єднання людей з наркозалежністю / Charity Organization "All-Ukrainian Association of People with Drug Addiction (VOLNA)"

Charitable Foundation "Second Life"

 

UNITED KINGDOM:

ReShape/International HIV Partnerships

Asociación Punto OMega

Psycare UK

Benzo Research Project

Newcastle University

PostScript360

WALES:
Barod

EUROPE/GLOBAL:
EuroNPUD

Coalition PLUS

Youth RISE

European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance (ESWA)

D2 INNOLAB- Global Innovation Lab on Drug Policy & Sustainable Development - Global 

AUSTRALIA:
AIVL

ECUADOR:
Anandamind

Parametria

 

FRENCH GUYANA:
Association guyanaise de réduction des risques (AGRRR)

NEPAL:
Recovering Nepal

SENEGAL:
Alliance Nationale des Communauté pour la Santé (ANCS)

 

 
And 150+ drug policy experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, citizens & activists...

Critical partners: Level and Quality of Civil Society Involvement in the field of Drug Policy

This report has been developed by Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN) in cooperation with the Rights Reporter Foundation (RRF). The report summarises the findings of a study conducted in 2023 which assessed the level and quality of civil society involvement in drug policies in four countries: Finland, Ireland, Greece and Hungary.

In 2021, the Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD) established guiding principles for meaningful civil society involvement in decision-making regarding drug policy. These principles were published in the Quality Standards for Civil Society Involvement in Drug Policy. The four case studies assess the implementation of these standards.

Read the report

Discover Correlation’s new visual identity!

We decided it was time to update our visual identity so it could better reflect our values and forward-looking approach! Find out about the concept behind our new logo and visuals!

Shapes
Community – The Circle
Given that Correlation is a European civil society network in the field of drug use, harm reduction, and social inclusion, we focus on the concept of community and the importance of civil society in fulfilling the needs of those affected by social and health inequalities.
Considering that, a graphic system with a circle as a basic unit was developed, resembling the semantic tension between the individual and the whole, and representing a point, data on a graphic, that gives us the knowledge to act. Our circle represents the community and at the same time, all those inside it and the infinite possibilities to build the collective.

Diversity – Polygons
One of the main points of the European community project is the respect and enhancement of our diversity. Therefore our circle is accompanied by polygons (rectangles, triangles, and so on) to create a modern, clean, simple yet meaningful layout throughout the different graphic applications (such as business cards, dossiers and research documents).

Colours: blue with a vibrant secondary colour palette
Health & Diversity
Following the idea of diversity and the infinite possible layouts that we can develop with the polygons system, we can also “create” a non-limited colour palette with vibrant colours, which we use together with a main/basic colour on the blue scale, as it is related to health and wellness in our society.

Logo: the Hug
Working around the meaning of community, we used the idea of creating different abstract forms with the diverse shapes to form a symbol/anagram that represents the intersection between different individuals. The design also enables variations for focal points and specific C-EHRN projects.

The design was developed by Jesús Roman.

Transforming Perceptions: Harm Reduction Efforts to Combat Stigma

When it comes to addressing drug consumption and its associated risks, the stigma surrounding people who use drugs negatively impacts their access to support and health services. When stigmatised, people feel discouraged from seeking the care they need due to feeling judged and degraded.

Harm reduction services approach drug use in all its complexity, upholding the rights of people who use drugs while searching for evidence-informed strategies of care and support. Harm Reduction aims to empower and support people who use drugs in regaining agency and leadership, contributing to their meaningful participation in reducing the potential harm of their drug use. Among others, examples of strategies to reduce stigma and improve access to treatment and support services include advocating for and contributing to the decriminalisation of drug use or the implementation of alternatives to incarceration.

For the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, we have collected some updates from the harm reduction field touching on addressing stigma.

→ 2023 #SupportDontPunish Global Day of Action
June 26th marks the 11th #SupportDontPunish Global Day of Action. The Support. Don’t Punish. Campaign unites initiatives working towards sustainable alternatives to the ‘war on drugs’ and supporting strategies to drug- and drug-policy-related challenges that are based on solidarity and the rights of the communities they represent. The campaign aims to connect and visibilise these local efforts as part of a global movement.
Find out more here.

→ Recommendations for tackling stigma and discrimination – joint statement by the EUHPP Thematic Network
The European Health Policy Platform Thematic Network on HIV, TB, viral hepatitis, and STIs, led in collaboration with the EU Civil Society Forum, is working to involve non-governmental organizations in policy development, implementation, and sharing of information. They released a joint statement in June that has been supported by 40 European organizations.

The statement points out the gaps in addressing the needs of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis in the EU. It also provides recommendations to tackle the stigma and discrimination faced by key populations, including people who use drugs.
You can read the statement here.

→ Statement from UN experts addresses stigma and discrimination and calls for people-centred alternatives to the ‘war on drugs’
A recent statement by United Nations experts underscores the detrimental effects of stigmatization and urges the exploration of alternative approaches to address the global challenge of drug-related issues. The experts advocate for a comprehensive and restorative justice framework, alongside inclusive and community-based measures. By challenging the paradigm of the ‘war on drugs,’ they emphasize the importance of adopting a more compassionate and efficient response. For further insights, you can access their statement here.

→ New toolbox to initiate harm reduction in prisons will be available by October
A toolbox to give guidance on the application of harm reduction approaches in prisons is under development. The toolkit, developed by C-EHRN in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts, will be launched in October and presented at the C-EHRN Member and Expert Meeting in Budapest in December.

→ Civil society involvement in Finland, Ireland, Hungary and Greece – What stage are we at?
In 2023, C-EHRN and the Rights Reporter Foundation will conduct a study to assess the level and quality of civil society involvement in four EU countries, Finland, Ireland, Hungary and Greece. The case studies will reflect on the application of quality standards based on the Quality Standards for Civil Society Involvement in Drug Policy, developed in 2021 as part of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD) Project. The study will also address how CSO are involved in the implementation of drug policies in each country.

Rafaela Rigoni on Civil Society-led Monitoring for Harm Reduction @ISSDP 2023

The 2023 Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) took place in Leuven, BE between the 30th of May – the 1st of June 2023, gathering around 250 participants including researchers, academics and some civil society organizations.

As part of the event, Rafaela Rigoni, C-EHRN’s Scientific Officer presented the Civil Society-led Monitoring for Harm Reduction, one of C-EHRN’s most significant achievements from recent years, with the title Frontline perspectives: Civil society-led monitoring of harm reduction in Europe.

Rafaela discussed the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the development and implementation of measures to reduce the harms of drug use and in monitoring and evaluating program policies. Her presentation analysed the challenges and experiences in building a framework to monitor the implementation of harm reduction in Europe from the viewpoint of frontline harm reduction workers.

She presented the monitoring framework developed by C-EHRN’s research group since 2018, which collects data on the accessibility and acceptability of harm reduction services, hepatitis C care for people who inject drugs, and drug trends. The monitoring tool operates through a network of Focal Points, harm reduction services in 36 European cities in 34 different countries.

Mapping the situation on a city level, the approach provides the foundations for the critical evaluation of harm reduction implementation against European policy goals and reflects the CSO’s perspectives, which is critical for optimising the local planning of services and developing effective and respectful drug policies.

 

Curious about the results of last year’s monitoring? Check out the Monitoring Data Report and the Executive Summary!

31st Annual NISPAcee Conference

Except for being our Research Officer, Iga Jeziorska is also an Assistant Professor at Corvinus University of Budapest in Hungary. Within this capacity, since 2017, she has been coordinating a Working Group on NGOs in Central-Eastern Europe in a non-profit scientific association called Network of Schools and Institutes on Public Administration in CEE (NISPAcee). This year, in Belgrade, Serbia, Iga presented some results from our 2022 civil society-led monitoring of harm reduction, focusing on challenges and needs of harm reduction service providers in European cities.

Even more importantly, however, Iga’s work was appreciated by the Network by being awarded the Mzia Mikeladze Award for the best PhD in the region for her portfolio dissertation titled Understanding the Determinants of Policy Performance in Collaborative Context: The Case of Drug Harm Reduction Services in Central-Eastern Europe, including the peer-reviewed papers that can be accessed here:

A Sin or a Health Issue? Morality Policy Framing and the State of Harm Reduction in East-Central Europe

Collaborative Governance Regimes in Illiberal Democracies: A Comparative Case of Drug Harm Reduction Policy in Central-Eastern Europe

Needle exchange programmes in Visegrad countries: a comparative case study of structural factors in effective service delivery.