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

Repressive drug policies fuel the HIV epidemic.

Needle exchange and substitution therapy save lives.

Drug users care about their health and must be offered HIV treatment.

Key Issues