The Drugreporter video advocacy team attended the international harm reduction conference in Vilnius - we filmed key sessions and interviewed several people about how they see state of the harm reduction movement in 2013. Learn how harm reduction programs are fighting for survival in a time of financial austerity, what does the former president of Poland and Switzerland think about the war on drugs and why harm reduction should move beyond public health.

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Harm Reduction 2013 - HCLU Conference Video

Youth RISE Nepal's short documentary film 'Journey of Change' was selected as the winner of the 9th International Harm Reduction Film Festival. The Film Festival took place last week in Vilnius, Lithuania in conjunction with the International Harm Reduction Conference.


'Journey of Change' was filmed in 5 cities in Nepal and uncovers the difficult realities faced by young people who use drugs in Nepal and the challenges they face in accessing services. It provides a unique insight into Nepal's young drug using communities, and was filmed whilst exploring these issues for a Youth RISE research project. The research report will also be published soon.


Youth RISE Nepal documentary 'Journey of Change'

For the past few years, civil society in the American region has attached great importance to ensuring a fruitful and efficient collaboration in order to impact our governments, the International Drug System, and … the OAS. And we did win a very serious battle! After obtaining such as a burning issue as the War on Drugs to figure on the General Assembly’s agenda, we went even further.

We obtained a special mention of our position in the OAS report and in the Declaration, we were there at the Event (this participation actually happens to be the biggest participation of civil society in the OAS in the history, with more than 300 representatives). And, last but not least, our collective letter was mentioned by President Perez Molina himself.

We can really say we have reached a significant step ahead and can be proud of ourselves. However, it is needless to say that, as big as this battle is, it is still just a battle, and that war is not yet to be over, particularly in México, Colombia and Central America. We need to put in practice, soon any particular experience of change and reform. Ecuadorian and Bolivian high officials have recently declared to be in favor of discussing alternative approaches.

Letter from the Investigation Center on Drugs and Human Rights’ Team on drug policy reform in the Americas

I am a policeman in second generation, and I served in police forces more than 38 years with faith & fidelity. We were taught and we are taught that the drug user is an enemy. The enemy of state, family, enemy of himself. And therefore, as more of them will be sent behind the bar, the better for the country and more comfortable for the society and families. And we followed exactly these rules for many decades.

With the beginning of Afghan drug aggression the situation in the region has changed significantly. Seizures of opium, and heroin reached decades of kilograms. Organized criminal groups specializing in drug smuggling have appeared, and very soon turned into transnational criminal groups. Simultaneously, when we have got concerned who serves sentences for drug related crimes at the peak of drug expansion, it has turned out, that most of such inmates are “small fry” – drug users, who were captured with from one to 10 grams of drug. And number of “Big fish” or “sharks” of drug trade among the fifteen thousand prison population could be counted by fingers of one hand …

It was necessary to change the tactic. We decided to apply a harm reduction practice. Very soon it became quite clear that police can be the worst enemy or the best friend of harm reduction. The police did not accept it at once; we needed a long term process of “police education”. Though, by general opinion, Kyrgyzstan is in beneficial position if compared to its neighbors in the region with regard to drug policy and law enforcement attitude to the problems of drug dependent people, this process is far from completion.

We started with random talks with the policemen on this topic. Further we, jointly with the international organizations, and NGOs providing services to HIV positive and drug dependent people, have developed and introduced a system of police education. At different stages it included humanization of legislation; use of bilingual police newspaper for popularization of knowledge on HR; development of guidelines regulating relations of police with vulnerable groups, including drug users, HIV positive people and sex workers; publication of study guide and introduction of special educational course “Police and HR” in the Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Establishment of medal “For outstanding contribution to the HIV prevention” by the Non-Governmental sector became an apotheosis of this process. 14 policemen of Kyrgyzstan were awarded with this medal in the last year. This medal represents the major pride …

All this produced some results, but it is important that this process of police education did not interrupt. Newly established international “Law Enforcement and HIV” network, functioning under a motto “By police for police…” should play a big role in this process. I am sincerely proud that I am a coordinator of this network.

Today the Network unites almost five thousand participants from 30 countries of the world. Its task is to make law enforcement staff acquainted with the best practices of harm reduction, promotion of advanced experience of HIV prevention using forms and methods of work attributed to police, elimination of stigma and discrimination of drug dependent and HIV positive people.

Two internet sites are successfully functioning for these purposes in Russian and English languages. They are not duplicating each other, but filled with account of peculiarities of our countries, and mentality of our staff. In April 2013 the Network has successfully presented its organization in the UN. “Police and HIV” has established an international group of police advisors, who participate in the activities at the international level and sharing experience. They have addressed several meetings and conferences in Europe, Australia, South Korea, and in Kiev (Ukraine) they have held consultation with colleagues from the countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Caucasus.

Such meetings allowed determining the role and the place of the Network in the system of international police cooperation, establish good work contacts in the region and use its opportunities in specific countries.

Thus, in Melbourne and Vienna the professionals started international discussion on importance of the harm reduction policy introduction. For many of them the participation in such discussion is progress already. After learning about the positive experience of Kyrgyzstan in the Kiev conference, the Police academy of Moldova has made decision on using it in their home country. The information of our websites is actively used at the local level to provide trainings, education, etc.

In addition to support by the colleagues, the work of the Network uses support of such authority international organizations, as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), World Health Organization (WHO), European Union funded Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP-5), Open Society Institute (OSI), AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), and others. Joint projects aimed at more active involvement of the law enforcement staff to the HIV prevention - are at the stage of development.

Former police officer Aleksandr Zelichenko presents law enforcement and harm reduction experience in Kyrgyzstan

The International Drug Policy Consortium has started a drug policy mapping project across 10 countries in Asia (India, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos and Cambodia).

The goal of the project is to gain a better understanding of drug policy making in the region. We are particularly interested in identifying the key policy actors, especially organisations who are engaged in policy advocacy. In an attempt to avoid the trap of "intra-disiplanary capture," where one only frames the issue from their own perspective, I'm keen to define drug policy as widely as possible.

In order to understand the process of drug policy making, we have developed a data collection website. The website seeks to gather data on a range of topics relevant to the policy process. I would be extremely grateful if you could get the ball rolling by logging into the site and having your say.

If you are tweeting this info, please use: @drugpolicydata

Click here to access the Drug Policy Data website.

IDPC drug policy mapping project in Asia

The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) seeks an entry-level administrative staff person to work with program staff. The Program Assistant provides administrative support to senior staff within a fast-paced human rights organization working in Washington and Latin America. S/he will have initiative, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate effectively in both English and Spanish. The position is for two years, subject to an evaluation at the end of the first three months, and brings a committed individual into contact with the human rights, religious, and foreign policy communities in Washington and Latin America. WOLA’s Washington office has a paid staff of 18, plus seven interns and five fellows.

The deadline for application is on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

Draft correspondence; copy-edit and format documents.

Assist with publication and distribution of reports, memos, press work, and other materials.

Assist in the coordination of public events, conferences, and delegations.

Maintain contact with U.S. and Latin American NGOs, attend coalition meetings, and accompany Latin American delegations while in Washington.

Monitor relevant congressional hearings and legislation.

Manage an intern in coordination with the Intern Coordinator.

Maintain and update website and social media content.

Coordinate travel, meetings, and scheduling for associates.

Other duties, including research assistance, will be assigned depending on the Associates’ needs and Assistant’s abilities.

A demonstrated commitment to human rights, democracy, and social justice in Latin America.

Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.

Spanish and English fluency required. Written translation experience highly desired.

Excellent organizational and administrative skills, follow-through, and attention to detail. Event planning skills preferred.

Experience working or living in Latin America preferred.

Human rights, political advocacy, and/or Capitol Hill experience highly desired.

Computer maintenance and IT trouble-shooting skills a plus.

High level of initiative and ability to work independently, as well as work on a team.

Flexibility; ability to work in a small, fast-paced, dynamic office environment with frequent international visitors.

Knowledge of desktop publishing, database management, and website maintenance a plus.

SALARY: $33,000, full health, dental, vision, and life insurance, three weeks annual vacation.

TIME COMMITMENT: Two-year commitment, subject to a favorable evaluation after the first three months.

APPLICATIONS DUE BY: Wednesday, June 26, 2013.
START DATE: Immediately.

TO APPLY: Please submit in English the following items in one PDF document electronically to PASearch@wola.org.

A list of two references with daytime telephone numbers and email addresses

Only candidates authorized to work in the U.S. without any restrictions need apply.

For more information, please visit www.wola.org.

WOLA is recruting a program assistant

President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill detailing the psychological and medical tests on young people suspected of drug abuse.

The tests would be voluntary and comprise two stages. The first is a written psychological test, followed by medical checks to find traces of illegal drugs in their bodies.

If experts find schoolchildren are using illegal drugs, they would be sent to a rehab centre.

The anti-drug program has already caused controversy – in some places parents were asked to sign their consent but were not told the details of the test.

Russia introduces drug tests for school children

"Disappearances in Mexico have become commonplace because federal and state authorities have tolerated and refused to clamp down on them," Amnesty says in a new report.

Official figures say 26,000 people have gone missing since December 2006.The date coincides with the deployment of the army to fight drug cartels. Critics of the war-on-drugs policy of former President Felipe Calderon say police brought about an escalation in violence.

"These figures demonstrate one of the key human rights challenges facing the government of Enrique Pena Nieto," said Rupert Knox, Amnesty International researcher on Mexico.

Amnesty International: Mexico 'failing to tackle disappearances'

In recent years, there has been an emerging epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among young injection drug users (IDU) in rural and suburban settings. Early this spring, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services convened a multidisciplinary technical consultation to discuss the existing evidence and to identify and define priorities for the development of a public health response.

Already working together to implement the 

Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis

—which includes among its priorities “reducing viral hepatitis caused by drug use behaviors”—the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration organized the consultation which brought together representatives of federal agencies, state health department officials, researchers, care providers, staff of community-based organizations, and other experts in the field.

Injection drug use is known to play a major role in HCV transmission. Surveillance data shared by Massachusetts in 2010 put a spotlight on an emerging HCV infection trend among young PWID.

Hepatitis C infection among young injecting drug users: Addressing an emerging trend

On 20-22 of May in Hammamet, Tunisia, Youth RISE joined other key global and regional youth organisations to develop a PACT for social change in the AIDS response. The meeting involved a free space for the development of a youth strategy and solidification of a cohesive HIV youth movement, and also fed into the UNAIDS youth policy and strategy. It was an important meeting that youth organisations had been calling for for some time and allowed the youth movement to define its own direction, priorities and goals.

The PACT outlined 5 key themes that emerged from the youth organisations: sexual and reproductive health services, with a focus on government accountability and sexuality education; enabling legal environments and removing punitive laws that impede access to services fro young key populations at higher risk; scaling up treatment and disaggregating data for evidence informed advocacy; using resources effectively; and ensuring that HIV remains a priority in the Post-2015 development framework.

Youth Rise joins the UNAIDS youth advisory forum to develop a pact for social change 

National drug control policies that impose criminal penalties for personal drug use undermine basic human rights, Human Rights Watch said this 4th of June. To deter harmful drug use, governments should rely instead on non-penal regulatory and public health policies.

Governments should also take steps to reduce the human rights costs of current drug production and distribution policies. Among the steps should be reforming law enforcement practices and exploring alternatives for legal regulation that would reduce the power of violent criminal groups.

International drug conventions should be interpreted and, where necessary, revised to ensure that they do not prohibit or discourage governments from adopting policies that would enable them to reduce the human rights costs of current policies, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch launched its statement in the context of the 43rd General Assembly of the Organization of American States, taking place in Antigua, Guatemala from June 4 to 6, 2013, that focus on drug control policy in the Americas.

HRW calls for the decriminalisation of the personal use of drugs in the Americas

Nosso continente está sangrando nas mãos do crime organizado e de traficantes

, destruindo milhares de vidas todos os anos. Tudo isso porque os EUA forçaram os governos da América Latina a seguir 

políticas de combate às drogas que se mostraram um fracasso, favorecendo as facções criminosas

 por trás do comércio de drogas.

Agora, pela primeira vez na história, os líderes de governo da América Latina estão se separando do extremismo dos EUA e exigindo políticas que dêem resultados. 

Em menos de 24 horas, a Guatemala será o país anfitrião de chefes de Estado de toda a região

, e exigirá uma nova proposta que dê a cada um de nossos países a liberdade de ficar ou não do lado dos EUA e adotar políticas de combate às drogas como as dos países europeus, bastante bem sucedidas.

Apelamos aos membros da Organização dos Estados Americanos que sigam as recomendações do novo relatório da OEA sobre a política de drogas e apoiem a proposta para que cada país experimente novas estratégias de combate à violência e crimes causados pelas drogas. A ditadura da atual política de drogas falhou, apesar de 50 anos de tentativas -- essa política alimenta o violento crime organizado, devasta vidas e está nos custando bilhões. É hora de uma abordagem humana e eficaz que realmente transformará nossos países e comunidades em lugares mais seguros.

 Membros do alto escalão do comitê de negociação nos disseram que para que todos os líderes cheguem a um acordo e tenham o poder necessário para se opor aos EUA, 

eles precisam de uma onda de apoio da opinião pública nas próximas horas

 para mudar a situação atual de completo fracasso. 

Assine esta petição urgente e compartilhe com todos

 -- se alcançarmos 100.000 assinaturas, nós entregaremos pessoalmente a petição para a comitiva da Guatemala que está liderando as negociações.

Assine esta petição urgente e compartilhe com todos.

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