The European Economic and Social Council (EESC) organized a public hearing on new psychoactive substances in Brussels on Wednesday.

A wide range of people - decision makers, researchers and civil society activists - were invited to give an input to the discussion around the new regulation proposed by the European Commission. Dana Spinant, the head of the Drug Unit gave us a presentation on the EC proposal that aims to bring new substances under control quicker in order to remove them from the market and thus reduce the harms of their use. The European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) will be mandated to assess the risks of new psychoactive substances. If a substance is reported to pose immediate risk, the Commission can introduce temporary consumer market restrictions. The EMCDDA risk assessment has three possible outcomes. First, if the substance is proven to be low risk, there is no need for further EU action. Second, if it has moderate risks, permantent consumer market restrictions will be put in place. Third, if the assessment concludes that the substance poses severe risks, the production and distribution of the substance will be criminalized.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

Public hearing on new psychoactive substances

Greece has opened its first drug consumption room in an attempt to contain the spreading of infectious diseases among users.

In an attempt to curb its rising HIV rates, the country said consumption rooms are safe places for heroin addicts to inject drugs. The heroin, however, won't be provided — the user has to bring his own. The consumption rooms, though, will carry government-provided clean needles and medical staff are on site to supervise usage.

"Demand is increasing day after day and we believe that very soon we may need more facilities in other parts of the city," said Sakis Papaconstantinou, the head of OKANA which runs the center, according to Reuters.

Greece opens heroin-injection rooms to combat HIV

The Lithuanian EU Presidency has invited the members of the EU Civil Society Forum’s Core Group to attend the December 9 meeting of the EU Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG), where we will have an opportunity to speak on behalf of the Forum.

This will be an excellent opportunity to present our position on the meaningful involvement of the Forum to the work of the HDG.

We intend to present the impact of the financial crisis on drug prevention, treatment and harm reduction services from the perspective of non-governmental organizations -- whether the crisis had any effect on trends related to drug use and how financial austerity measures affected the access to and availability of essential services in their respective countries.

We ask you to complete the following questionnaire by November 30. Your responses are vital for us to prepare an adequate presentation for the EU member states.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

CSF on drugs: Effects of economic crisis on drug situation and responses

The leafy substance, grown by many Kenyan farmers, was of economic and cultural significance to many Africans, MP Florence Kajuju told the BBC. The UK government has decided, against the advice of its own experts, to treat khat as a class C drug to "protect vulnerable members of our communities".

It is traditionally used by Ethiopian, Kenyan, Somali and Yemeni communities.The mildly narcotic leaf is already banned in most of Europe and in a number of other countries, including the US and Canada.

Ms Kajuju led a team of Kenyan MPs to the UK to lobby the government not to follow suit. In July, UK Home Secretary Theresa May said khat would be banned "at the earliest possible opportunity" but a ban has yet to be imposed.

Kenya appeals to UK not to ban khat

A Agência Piaget para o Desenvolvimento (APDES) associou-se à Semana Europeia do Teste VIH, a decorrer entre 22 e 29 de Novembro de 2013 e dinamizou um conjunto de atividades neste âmbito, a saber:

1. Participou ativamente na elaboração de Recomendações para a aplicação dos testes HIV, Hepatítes Víricas e outras IST em Contexto Comunitário apresentada dia 22 de Novembro pelo Fórum Nacional da Sociedade Civil para a Infeção do VIH/sida (FNSC) ao Diretor do Programa Nacional para a infeção VIH/sida.

2. Em parceria com o Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (ISPUP) realizou um workshop dirigido a pares utilizadores de substâncias psicoativas e pares trabalhadores do sexo, no dia 26 de Novembro, entre as 11h30 e as 13h30, sob o tema "A importância da educação de pares no rastreio do VIH em contexto comunitário". Os dinamizadores do workshop foram Henrique de Barros (Diretor do ISPUP), Sandrine Dias (Técnica do Porto G - APDES) e Mariana Oliveira (Técnica do GIRUGAIA - APDES). Esta iniciativa teve como principal objectivo sensibilizar os pares para a promoção do rastreio do VIH em contexto comunitário, através da metodologia de educação de pares, incentivando a sua participação na tomada de decisão sobre políticas públicas sobre o VIH/SIDA.

3. Está também a realizar testes rápidos, no concelho de Vila Nova de Gaia, com marcação prévia através do email:mariana.oliveira@apdes.pt ou 912441541.

Junte-se a esta iniciativa e, por favor, divulgue junto dos seus contactos estas iniciativas e os locais de realização do teste em Portugal.

Registe-se para recever as Alertas mensais do IDPC e obter informação sobre questões relacionadas com as políticas de drogas.

Semana Europeia do Teste VIH

APDES (Agência Piaget para o Desenvolvimento) joined the European HIV Testing Week, taking place between 22 and 29 November 2013, and drove a set of activities in this area, namely:

1. APDES actively participated in the elaboration of the Recommendations for the Application of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and other STI's Testing in Community Context, presented to the Director of the National Program for the HIV/AIDS, on November 22 by the Civil Society National Forum for the HIV/AIDS (FNSC).

2. In partnership with the Public Heatlh Institute of Porto University (ISPUP), undertook a workshop addressed to peers that are users of psychoactive substances or/and sex workers, on November 26, between 11:00 and 13:30, in the subject "The importance of peer education on the HIV screening in community context". The facilitators of the workshop were Henrique de Barros (Director of ISPUP), Sandrine Dias (Worker of Porto G Project - APDES) and Mariana Oliveira (Worker of the Project GIRUGAIA, APDES). This initiative aimed to raise the peers awareness for the promotion of the HIV screening in community context, through the peer education methodology, by encouraging their participation in the decision-making of the public policies on HIV/AIDS.

3. APDES is also making rapid tests, in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, by appointment through the email:mariana.oliveira@apdes.pt or 912441541.

Click here to join us in this initiative and, please, share with your contacts this initiatives and the places of the screening in Portugal

European HIV Testing Week

The International AIDS Society (IAS) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are proud to announce a new round of their fellowship programme encouraging HIV and Drug Use. In 2014, the programme will be expanded with one additional fellowship thanks to the support of the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS). The name of the programme will be changed to HIV and Drug Use Research Fellowship to reflect this new partnership.

The fellowship programme is awarded as a stipend of US$75,000 in two categories: to a junior scientist for 18 months of post-doctoral training; and to a well-established HIV or drug use researcher for eight months of professional development training. Both are hosted by leading institutes excelling in HIV-related drug use research. Applications from a wide range of disciplines will be accepted.

The 2014 round will be open for applicants 

 (midnight CET). Mentors must submit their statement of support by 18 February 2014 (midnight CET).

The IAS Research Promotion Department is hosting two webinars to provide more information about the upcoming HIV and Drug Use Research Fellowship application round. The webinars will be held on Tuesday, 3 December, at 16:00 GMT and Wednesday, 4 December, at 7:00 GMT. If you are interested in learning more about the fellowship, click on this link for more information on how to register.

Any questions may be directed to researchpromotion@iasociety.org.

2014 round HIV and drug use research fellowship

Throughout the months of November, December and January (2013/2014), youth activists from around the world will start organizing to ensure HIV remains a priority in the post-2015 agenda and that sexual and reproductive health and rights gets recognized for the first time ever in major UN goals.

The PACT - a collaboration of 25 youth-led and youth-serving organizations - together with UNAIDS are launching ACT 2015: one goal, many voices–a movement building initiative that aims to secure a post-2015 development framework that advances the SRHR and HIV response for young people. ACT 2015 also aims to inspire action on the priorities of youth activist within national AIDS responses.

Using online technology to reach young people on the ground, in the first phase we are asking youth activists to sign up and host community dialogues for social action throughout the months of November, December and January. The community dialogues are a tool for you and your peers to share your own stories, find solutions and commit to action:

What are the needs of young people living with HIV?

How can we be the generation that gets to the end of the AIDS epidemic

Help create a new narrative on AIDS: Join Act 2015!

The Chilean Medical Association (COLMED), and the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education Research & Service (ICEERS), with the support of the Open Society Institute and the collaboration of Cultiva Medicina, are organizing the First International Conference on Drug Policy, this November 29th in Santiago of Chile.

For the first time in this country, specialists in the field of drug use in the country and abroad, representatives of the healthcare community, psychiatry and neurology associations, national government agents and Uruguay administration advisors, among others, will meet to discuss about this subject to impact over drug policies issues in a crucial time before the next chilean presidential election.

They will argue about the drug global effects, (social, health, ethical, economic, racial, etc.) on a wide policy context, based more on scientists facts than moral beliefs.

The objective of this event is open the issue in the context of a policy with a broad view, based on public health and human rights, rather than police prosecution and criminal look.

This activity is an effort that contributes to put Latinamerica as a leader in generate new looks about the subject of drugs, to influence over the stakeholders of the countries.

The invited speakers are Dr. Enrique Paris , President of COLMED; Francisca Florenzano, SENDA Director; Dr. Daniel Martínez , Director of Psychiatry Society of Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery ( SONEPSYN ) of Chile ; Dr. Raquel Peyraube , ICEERS Clinical Director and Advisor to the Uruguayan Government Drug Policy; Aram Barra , Program Officer for Latin America Transform Drug Policy Foundation in Mexico ; Dr. Sergio Sanchez Bustos, Drug Policy Advisor Chilean Medical Association ; Dr. José Carlos Bouso , IMIM Clinical Investigator and Director of Scientific Projects ICEERS , Spain ; Mariano Fusero , Advocate and Secretary of the National Committee for Equality, Argentina ; Eduardo Vergara , Director Asuntos del Sur and Ingrid Tartakowsky , Research and Executive ICEERS both of Chile.

First international conference on drug policy

Imagine you have a chronic illness. After exhausting all resources, and failing all available treatments, you participate in a clinical trial of a new treatment. And, success—the treatment works. Your energy is back, you hold a steady job, your relationships improve, you feel strong and happy.

Then, the clinical trial ends. Despite international research ethics that state you should be allowed to continue on clinical trial medicines and other treatments if they work, your right to this medicine is denied.

With the support of Pivot Legal Society, five Canadian patients faced with this problem—Deborah Bartosch, Charles English, Douglas Lidstrom, Larry Love, and David Murray—are suing their federal government on behalf of all Canadians who could benefit from this treatment.

Heroin-assisted treatment works. Why is Canada denying it to patients? 

We, the undersigned human rights organizations, address you on this Fourth Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security (MISPA) to follow up on the call upon governments to revise the orientation of drug policies that are being implemented in the Americas. This request for the governments took place during the 43rd Session of the OAS General Assembly which took place last June.

This meeting of Ministers should continue to reaffirm the commitments made by the States' parties to the Declaration of Antigua Guatemala ‘For a Comprehensive Policy against the World Drug Problem in the Americas.’ We insist on the importance of resuming the dialogue that began in Antigua and on renewing the joint efforts by the States regarding drug policies, while emphasizing that these policies should contain human rights protections and violence reduction as central elements.

We understand that it is essential that ministers responsible for public security in the Americas are engaged in this dialogue, at this 4th MISPA as well as in any space generated within its context. Their active participation becomes relevant in the current regional scenario, marked by prohibitionist policies and the war on drugs, which have focused the debate about drugs and security issues. In our region, the structure and organization of the criminal networks that control the illegal drugs market have penetrated and corrupted governmental institutions, including the police forces, undermining their capacity to provide security to the communities. For this reason, we believe it is necessary to start discussing changes in the States’ response to this problem, by providing security in relation to organized crime, and by strengthening the offer of health policies regarding prevention and treatment of those persons suffering from a problematic use of substances, either legal or illegal, while establishing a criminal policy that can reduce the high impact of drug policies on penitentiary systems.

The undersigned organizations urge the governments to deepen the dialogue and agree on a work agenda, which should discuss and define actions taken to reduce the negative impact of drug policies on human rights, including, but not limited to:

Implementation of policies aimed at reducing violence. The efforts made toward establishing the law have been traditionally focused on reducing the scale or the size of the illegal drugs’ market, paying little attention to the way these policies could increase—or reduce—violence. The tens of thousands of people murdered in Mexico in recent years have clearly shown such damage. Ultimately, the aim should be to minimize the harm caused in the communities by violence in connection to drug-trafficking, control over territories, arms trafficking, and human trafficking, as well as the drug policies themselves that are being implemented.



Revision of the proportionality of the penalties imposed for drug-related crimes, differentiated according to their gravity, the use of violence, and the level of responsibility of the offenders in the criminal structures. The law prescribing penalties for drug-related crimes should be reformed, enabling alternatives to prison in the case of non-violent crimes, particularly in those committed by persons in vulnerable situations, such as women in the region.

Incorporation of a gendered perspective which allows the identification and tackling of the differential impact that the drugs’ problems have on women’s lives. The criminal policies focused exclusively on trade and trafficking crimes, as well as on the prosecution of users, have stricken persons in more vulnerable situations due to poverty, marginalization, migration, and others. At the same time, the impact has clearly differentiated between sexes, the impact being greater on women. The poorest, most marginalized populations and women face the failure of this approach. Without a doubt, this has contributed to overincarceration and violence in prisons, and a rise in the number of women deprived of their liberty. In spite of them being minor links in the drug chain, the ‘mules’ (individual carriers) or micro-traffickers are the ones who populate prisons, many times accompanied by their young sons and daughters.

Decriminalization of consumption, drug possession and cultivation for personal use. Criminalization of drug users intensifies their exclusion and stigmatization. Minority groups and impoverished people are especially affected by this, since they are usually the main target of law enforcement interventions. Governments should consider the possibility of adopting decriminalization as an alternative response to criminalization of drug users, by offering health policies for problematic consumers within the framework of the public health system, so that they are not stigmatized. This implies separating drug use from the criminal and security fields; only a clear division between drug users and the illegal market will allow the efforts of security agencies to focus on their real target. All these actions, apart from complying with principles respectful of human rights, would help reduce incarceration rates, by eliminating criminal behavior connected to drugs. Prison overcrowding is one of the main causes of human rights violations in the region, strongly impacting the families of detainees and their living conditions.

Revising the use of armed forces in anti-drug operations. Militarization, a pillar in "The War On Drugs," has proven to be ineffective and counterproductive: corruption, insecurity, and violence rates have increased in those territories in which the armed forces have intervened, and they have become another factor which contributes to the escalating use of force and weapons. This has not only done little to solve the offer issue, but it has also had a negative impact on the respect for human rights, resulting in the militarization of public security, the deprofessionalization of the armed forces, and a blurring of the borderline between security and defense.

For all of the above, the undersigned organizations call on the ministers responsible for public security in the Americas to resume the dialogue that began in Antigua and to go on with the agreed activities, looking for alternatives to the militarized and heavy-handed policies which have increased the levels of violence in the region without achieving the desired results. We urge the governments to include civil society participation in this dialogue, as well as to reaffirm their commitments in order to put human rights at the center of the debate.

. +Info - Riesgo, El Salvador
2. Acción técnica Social- ATS, Colombia
3. American Civil Liberties Union- ACLU, Estados Unidos
4. Asamblea Permanente por los Derechos Humanos- APDH, Argentina
5. Asistencia Legal por los Derechos Humanos A.C., Mexico
6. Asociación Costarricense para el Estudio e Intervención en Drogas- ACEID, Costa Rica
7. Asociación de Estudios del Cannabis del Uruguay- AECU , Uruguay
8. Asociación Pensamiento Penal- APP, Argentina
9. Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos, Perú
10. Asuntos del Sur , Chile
11. Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, Canadá
12. Centro Cáritas de Formación para la Atención de las Farmacodependencias y Situaciones
Críticas Asociadas A.C , México
13. Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín- Prodh, Mexico
14. Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales- CELS, Argentina
15. Colectivo de Estudios Drogas y Derecho- CEDD
16. Centro de Investigación Drogas y Derechos Humanos- CIDDH, Perú
17. Colectivo por una Política Integral Hacia las Drogas AC- CUPIHD, Mexico.
18. Colegio Médico de Chile, Chile
19. Comisión de Justicia y Paz, Colombia
20. Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos (CEDHU) de Ecuador
21. Comisión Provincial por la Memoria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
22. Conectas direitos humanos
23. Conselho Regional de Psicologia de São Paulo, Brasil
24. Consorcio Internacional sobre Políticas de Drogas- IDPC
25. Corporación Humanas- Centro regional de derechos humanos y justicia de
género
26. Dejusticia- Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad, Colombia
27. Drug Policy Alliance - DPA, Estados Unidos de Norteamérica.
28. Espolea A.C., México
29. Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género- ELA, Argentina
30. Estudios Comparados en Ciencias Penales de Guatemala -ICCPG, Guatemala
31. Frente Estadual de Drogas e Direitos Humanos do Rio de Janeiro- FEDDH-RJ, Brasil
32. Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho- FESPAD, El Salvador.
33. Fundación Myrna Mack, Guatemala
34. Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación, AC.
35. Harm Reduction Coalition- HRC, Estados Unidos de Norte America
36. Iglesia Evangélica Protestante de El Salvador
37. Instituto de Estudios Legales y Sociales del Uruguay- IELSUR, Uruguay
38. Instituto de género, derecho y desarrollo- Insgenar, Argentina
39. Instituto Latinoamericano de Seguridad y Democracia- ILSED
40. Intercambios Asociación Civil, Argentina
41. La Maria Guanaca, El Salvador
42. Lua Nova, Brasil
43. Mesa Nacional por la Igualdad, Argentina
44. México Unido Contra la Delincuencia- MUCD , México
45. Misión Sacerdotal Tercermundista
46. Movimiento Igualdad, El Salvador
47. Oficina en Washington para Asuntos Latinoamericanos - WOLA, Estados Unidos de
América
48. Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo- PIDHDD
49. Proderechos, Uruguay
50. Projeto Transversões – Projeto Integrado de Pesquisas “Saúde mental,
desinstitucionalização e abordagens psicossociais” – Escola de Serviço Social da
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
51. Psicotropicus, Centro Brasileño de Políticas de Drogas, Brasil
52. Puente, Investigación y Enlace- PIE, Bolivia
53. Red Americana de Intervención en Situaciones de Sufrimiento Social- RAISSS
54. Red Brasileña de Reducción de Daños y Derechos Humanos- REDUC , Brasil
55. Transnational Institute- TNI

 Open letter to ministers responsible for public security in the Americas fourth meeting of ministers responsible for public security in the Americas (MISPA IV)

Under the title "Break the barriers ... Build the future" MENAHRA concluded its Second Regional Conference on Injecting Drug Use Harm Reduction. The Conference venue was Hilton - Metropolitan in Sin El Fil - Lebanon, from 12 to 15 November 2013. 223 participants attended from 24 countries that majority of them were from the Middle East and North Africa.

The conference compiled attendees from different backgrounds which title might not show to be clearly compatible sometimes but they ended in fact by becoming collaborating and networking with each other, the attendees were PWUD, outreach workers, peer educators, policy makers, police, Religious leaders, Health professionals, Lawyers, Civil society organizations professionals and directors, social workers, nurses, physicians, researchers, UN officers, media professionals, etc. In this context, and prior to the Conference MENAHRA organized an advocacy event in the Lebanese prison in cooperation with "Justice and Mercy "; Lebanese NGO active on awareness in Roumieh prison.

The event was largely covered by the Media. It targeted inmates' drug users with whom a movie, produced by ZAD production and supported by MENAHRA and WHO, was screened. The movie is titled "The Alternative" which is about a psychiatrist who advocates for Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) in Egypt and whose idea is not accepted by the society and the policy makers. Also prior to the Conference on Tuesday November 12, a donors and partners meeting was organized by MENAHRA, the meeting gathered a number of civil society and drug users representatives, UN and International NGO representatives in addition to a number of donors. The meeting ended with a number of recommendations on removing the barriers to fund harm reduction in the MENA and to put this topic on donors' agenda. The main recommendations topics stressed the need to fund and support policies on Harm Reduction, OST treatment, scale up of services and support of new centers, outreach programs and to secure technical and financial support for HR programs including refugees and to support and increase studies in the MENA.

The conference was launched in the afternoon of the same day, the launching happened under the Patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Health of Lebanon, Mr. Ali Hassan Khalil, and a number of partners contributed to this event in addition to a testimonial from an ex-drug user who demonstrated courage in her speech and presentation titled "Filthy Icon" and how she overcame her problem thanks to the Opioid substitution treatment (OST). The Lebanese flash mob folklore took place during the launch of the event to change the seriousness of the environment which was appreciated by the attendees. The three other days of the Conference went smoothly, people showed their interested in the multiple sessions that tackled almost all HR topics: policy making, religion and harm reduction, youth, law enforcements, refugees, outreach and peer education, support groups, OST, researches and studies, financing and supporting HR, new funding model of GFATM. In addition to a number of workshops that were organized on harm reduction, advocacy, overdose management, organizing drug users and support groups.

The Dialogue space area was very active with delegates; the topics discussed and tackled were very rich and practical such as ARV crisis that was presented by WHO, the Knowledge hubs activities, RANAA's activities, example from Portugal on legalizing HR, the society perception on HR. A film festival took place during the two first days where 10 movies were screened from the region and few were from outside MENA, the most attended and watched movie was "BEN"'s which is the story of a young man who screened himself during his drug use journey that ended with an overdose and his death. This movie drew the media attention that interviewed Ben's mother who were attending the Conference and explained to the audience the sufferance that Ben went through and how the parents were supportive to him. Not to forget the side events that took place during the conference: the UNODC, UNAIDS and IDLO side meeting on Police leadership in Harm reduction, the launch of the arabic version of the Good Practice Guide by MENAHRA and International HIV/AIDS Alliance, the launch of the Situation Assessment of HR in MENA -2012 by MENAHRA, the side meetings of MENANPUD group, MENAHRA members and RANAA members, in addition to a number of another side networking meetings between attendees.

In the Middle of the Conference, MENAHRA honoured the participants and tried to release their stress by inviting them to an official diner that took place in a Lebanese traditional restaurant where everyone enjoyed dancing on Lebanese and Arabic songs. The conference took an end on Friday; the closing session of the conference was introduced by the members of the Board of Directors of MENAHRA from Iran, Morocco, and Egypt. The WHO, UNAIDS and UNODC speeches mentioned the importance progress that happened since the last Conference until now at the level of HR which was clearly considered and evident during the current Conference.

MENAHRA acknowledges all the contributors to the success of this Conference including SIBA volunteers, Eventa, Saad Tours, Hilton Metropolitan hotel, Media sponsors, partners, sponsors and supporters, funders, civil society organizations, the MENAHRA Board of directors and the great team of MENAHRA.

Hopefully to see you all in the Next Conference! MENAHRA -- If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, click on this link<http://menahra.org/list/?p=unsubscribe&uid=ac7cde5fce2759f400409e3b4917d9e8>.

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