Post on 28-Dec-2015
Advocating for Harm Reduction: A Public Health Response to Drug Use and HIV in
Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Sue Simon
International Harm Reduction Development
Open Society Institute
People Living With HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1999 2002
Number of people w.HIV
Source: UNAIDS Report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic 2002
Officially Registered Cases of HIV Infection in the Russian Federation 1995-2002 (As of Sept. 2, 2002)
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
New Registered CasesTotal Registered Cases
Data: Russian Federal AIDS Center
Responding to the Challenge
Service Delivery More than 200 harm reduction
programs in 23 countries
Capacity Building Training, study tours,
Policy Development Analysis, advocacy, community
mobilization, and information
OSI-Supported Harm Reduction Programs Albania Azerbaijan Belarus Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Estonia Georgia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania
Macedonia Moldova Poland Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan
IHRD Policy Goals
Mainstream harm reduction
Gain government support and funding
Incorporation of harm reduction in national AIDS plans
Equal access to HIV treatment and testing for drug users
Access to effective drug substitution therapies
Supportive legislative environment
Decriminalization of drug users
Advocating for people affected by drug use and drug policy
Policy Analysis
Lobbying and Advocacy
Community Mobilization
Media and Information
Policy Analysis Documenting and publicizing policy challenges
related to harm reduction and HIV/AIDS
Building skills among service providers and local advocates
Working with governments, donors and multilateral institutions to shape policy agendas
Advocacy Bridging local advocates
with government and international officials
Policy maker study tours and participation in harm reduction events
Training police and prison officials
Legal advocacy and legislative reform
Community Mobilization
Supporting organizations of HIV+ people and drug user activists
Organizing networks of service providers and those they serve
Building connections with legal services and human rights groups
Advocacy skills building training; organizational development training for new community action groups
Media and Information
Supporting print and online information exchange across the region
Training service providers and advocates in media relations
Media outreach
Commissioning and distributing original research