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DAILY UPDATE
DAY ONE
Monday 26 April 2010
THIS CONFERENCE
will be a chance to engage in
some nostalgia, but also to look forward to the next
generation of harm reduction, said Professor Gerry
Stimson, welcoming delegates to Liverpool for the
21st international harm reduction conference.
Harm reduction began in a modest way, with a
drug users union in the Netherlands in 1984, he ex-
plained. Among the first needle exchanges in the UK
was the Mersey Regional Drug Treatment Centre in
Liverpool, not far from the conference venue.
‘Who could have imagined that, 25 years later,
harm reduction would have received such
acceptance in the international community?,’ said
Prof Stimson.
Challenges for the next generation included
expanding HIV related harm reduction into places
where it was much needed and increasing
demands on international agencies such as the
Global Fund to properly fund harm reduction.
‘The next generation is about how harm
reduction gets to grips with the way we control
and regulate all psychoactive substances,’ he
said. ‘Massive investment in law enforcement has
not paid off.’
Michael Bartos attended as representative from
the United Nations Joint programme on HIV/AIDS.
UNAIDS executive director, Michel Sidibe, like
some of the conference delegates, had had his
schedule disrupted by flight chaos resulting from
Icelandic volcanic ash, but sent a video message.
‘Harm reduction has reached a tipping point
and we have solid evidence that shows it prevents
new infections,’ he told delegates. Reaching zero
HIV infections among new drug users is not a
dream, it is a reality. It is happening now in
countries with full-scale programmes.
I applaud IHRA for their efforts in getting this far.
You have returned to Liverpool where it all began
and you can be very proud of your achievements.
Ninety-three countries now support harm
reduction.’ Despite progress there was still a long
way to go. ‘We will not reach our goal unless we
persuade authorities that harm reduction is more
effective than punishment,’ he said.
‘I want to pay special tribute to outgoing
executive director Gerry Stimson, who has been a
global pioneer and champion of harm reduction,’
he added.
IHRA recognised Prof Stimson’s work over the
past seven years by announcing him winner of the
2010 International Rolleston Award, which was
presented by honorary president Pat O’Hare.
Next generation of harm reduction
is in sight, says Stimson
HIGHLIGHTS
Monday 26 April
PLENARY SESSION
Harm reduction: next
generation challenges
9.00-10.30
Bradley Mathers asks how
successful efforts to expand HIV
prevention have been.
Gerry Stimson looks at resourcing
HIV harm reduction on a global
basis with the launch of IHRA’s
report, ‘Three cents a day is not
enough’.
Urban Weber presents the Global
Fund’s leadership on harm
reduction.
Alvaro Bermejo considers a health
system’s strengthening approach to
development financing and asks:
what does it mean for harm
reduction?
DIALOGUE SPACE
12.30
Opens at 12.30 in the Exhibition
Area. A variety of speakers, starting
with the Global Fund.
FILM FESTIVAL
12.30
Opens at 12.30 in the cinema,
auditorium level. Films also showing
from 18.00 at FACT Movie Theatre
– see map on backcover of
programme.
Lunch break is from 12.30–14.00