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DAILY UPDATE
DAY TWO
Tuesday 21 April 2009
'We are in a moment of new opportunity to
consolidate gains and build on opportunities,'
executive director of the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Professor Michel
Kazatchkine told delegates at the opening
session. 'As we struggle, it's easy to lose sight of
the progress made.'
Progress in expanding access to anti-retroviral
drugs had been dramatic, with impressive declines
in HIV-related mortality, he said, and harm
reduction networks were increasingly vocal and
respected. The prospect that the US could re-
engage in harm reduction was also 'tremendously
encouraging,' he stressed, calling on the US to
'firmly and emphatically' do so.
However, huge challenges undoubtedly remain-
ed. 'In too many countries, in too many police cells,
in too many prisons, drug users are treated as less
than human. The right to health, decent care,
equality, privacy, education and to share in the
advances of science are universal human rights,' he
said. Meanwhile, in terms of evidence, it was
essential to continue to show why drug use was
most effectively addressed as a human rights
challenge. 'Punitive approaches that over burden
criminal justice services are futile and counter-
productive. What upsets so many in the harm
reduction movement is the Commission on Narcotic
Drugs’ scandalous failure to appreciate how times
have changed.'
A framework that focused exclusively on
reduction of demand and supply was not accept-
able and it was essential to continue to reject ‘the
myth that harm reduction promotes addiction’. By
embracing harm reduction, countries moving from
a law enforcement to a public health approach
were 'on the right side of history', he said. However
some were still determined to swim against the tide
and pursue 'the senseless war on drugs'.
'Alarming evidence' was a principal tool for
advocacy, he said, with the life expectancy of
someone beginning anti-retroviral treatment 12
years lower for an intravenous drug user than a non
IDU. 'It speaks to the scandalous failure to prioritise
effective healthcare,' he said. But for every step
back there were two steps forward. 'No matter
how often evidence is denied we must continue to
maintain hope and keep up the fight.'
Harm reduction ‘on the
right side of history’
HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday 21 April
Plenary Session:
Harm reduction and human rights
This important session will reflect and
explore the conference theme, and will
include a presentation from the UN
special rapporteur on Torture.
Queens Park 1&2 (2nd Floor)
09:00 – 10:30
Major Session: Compulsory drug
dependence treatment centres
This session is organised by UNODC
and IHRD and will explore this impor-
tant topic with a focus on Thailand,
Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Queens Park 2 (2nd Floor)
11:00 – 12:30
Lunchtime Session:
Harm reduction in Thailand
In this hour-long session, two people
who have been engaged in the Thai
satellite and in ongoing advocacy
work to change Thai drugs policy will
provide up-to-date analysis of the
local issues, the steps that have been
taken and future directions.
Queens Park 3 (2nd Floor)
12:45 – 13:45
Workshop: From harm reduction to
pleasure maximisation
Cheryl White from Canada will explore
practical strategies for increasing
pleasure while reducing harms. See
page 2 for more details.
Workshop Lounge (Mezzanine Floor)
14:00 – 15:30
Film Festival
There will be another packed
programme of screenings today –
including films from Vietnam, Iran,
Canada and the Caribbean.
Panorama 1 (3rd Floor)
13:00 – 18:30
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