EURASIAN HARM REDUCTION NETWORK
NEWS DIGEST - JUNE 2009

***EHRN news***

NEW EHRN STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS START THEIR WORK On the June 22, 2009 the new members of the Steering Committee started their work in the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network. Their names are: Vera Sergunina (Kazakhstan), Dasha Ocheret (Russia), Natalia Kitsenko (Ukraine), David Otiashvili (Georgia), Katarina Jiresova (Slovakia), Olga Belyaeva (DU representative, Ukraine), Konstantine Labartkava (DU representative, Georgia).

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1309-new-steering-committe-members-start-their-work-in-ehrn.html

CALL FOR CONSULTANCY AT EHRN Eurasian Harm Reduction Network is searching a consultant, who would develop the EHRN Strategic Plan. http://www.harm-reduction.org/more-vacancies/1311-call-for-consultancy-at-ehrn.html

***In CEE/CA***

CLOSURE OF PILOT OST PROGRAMS IN UZBEKISTAN Starting from June 25, 2009 the Government of Uzbekistan decided to close a pilot methadone and buprenorphine substitution treatment program in the country. Approximately 200 clients have been enrolled in the program. They have all passed opioid detoxification.

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1310-closure-of-pilot-ost-programs-in-uzbekistan.html

A NEW METHADONE MAINTENANCE THERAPY CENTER OPENED IN KORCA, ALBANIA On June 17 a new methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) center was opened in the town of Korca, Albania. It took almost one year to open the center and the main support came from the Ministry of Health (GFATM), local government of Korca, members of parliament, parents and others.

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1312-a-new-methadone-maintenance-therapy-center-opened-in-korca-albania.html

KYRGYZSTAN: THE LEADERS OF PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF SEX WORK MET WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNAIDS On May 27, 2009 in Geneva leaders of the global (NSWP) and regional networking projects in the area of sex work met with Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director, as well as with representatives of agencies – co-sponsors of UNAIDS.

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1313-2009-07-03-12-49-06.html

THE FIRST CONGRESS OF COMMUNITIES LIVING WITH HIV IN KYRGYZSTAN For the first time in Kyrgyzstan, on May 27, 2009 a congress which brought together over 30 people related to HIV was held.

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1314-the-first-congress-of-communities-living-with-hiv-in-kyrgyzstan.html

METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROTOCOL DEVELOPED IN LITHUANIA On May 7, 2009 a national scientific-practical seminar for the presentation and discussion of new methodology for methadone maintenance therapy took place in Kaunas, Lithuania.

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1315-methadone-maintenance-protocol-developed-in-lithuania.html

PROGRAM FOR HIV PREVENTION AMONG MSM DEVELOPED IN ESTONIA From July 1, 2009 the Estonian Network of PLWH www.ehpv.ee is launching a new program aimed at preventing and fighting HIV among men having sex with men (MSM) in Estonia. The program is supported by the American Foundation and amfAR (MSM Initiative).

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1316-program-for-hiv-prevention-among-msm-developed-in-estonia.html

GlaxoSmithKline REFUSES TO LOWER PRICES FOR ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY DRUGS IN RUSSIA On May 25, 2009 Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare held an open auction for the supply of medicines for the treatment of persons living with HIV through the federal appropriations budget for 2009.

http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1317-glaxosmithkline-refuses-to-lower-prices-for-antiretroviral-therapy-drugs-in-russia.html

***In the world***

HCLU PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY SHOWS THAT ATTITUDES ON DRUG POLICY ARE DEEPLY DIVIDED IN 6 EU COUNTRIES http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1326-hclu-public-opinion-survey-shows-that-attitudes-on-drug-policy-are-deeply-devided-in-6-eu-countries.html

GROUPS PUT PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENTS TO REFORM HARMFUL DRUG POLICIES http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1304-groups-put-pressure-on-governments-to-reform-harmful-drug-policies-.html

UN COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD CALLS FOR HARM REDUCTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN SWEDEN http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1318-un-committee-on-the-rights-of-the-child-calls-for-harm-reduction-for-young-people-in-sweden.html

UN GENRAL ASSEMBLY PRESENTS REVIEW ON HIV/AIDS AND A NEW WORLD AIDS DAY THEME http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1319-un-general-assembly-review-on-hivaids-and-a-new-world-aids-day-theme-of-universal-access-and-human-rights.html

AIDS ACTION EUROPE: 5 YEARS OF EUROPEAN COLLABORATION IN RESPONSE TO THE HIV EPIDEMIC http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1320-aids-action-europe-5-years-of-european-collaboration-in-response-to-the-hiv-epidemic.html 

UN BOARD REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO HARM REDUCTION http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1322-unaids-board-reaffirms-its-commitment-to-harm-reduction.html

RELEASE OF WORLD DRUG REPORT 2009 http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1323-release-of-world-drug-report-2009.html

WOMEN’s HARM REDUCTION NETWORK FOUNDED http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1324-womens-harm-reduction-international-network-whrin-is-founded.html

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION ‘LOVE’ CONDOM CAMPAIGN DISTRIBUTES FREE CONDOMS http://www.harm-reduction.org/news/1325-aids-healthcare-foundation-love-condom-campaign-distributes-free-condoms.html

***Upcoming events & courses***

WORKSHOP: "HARM REDUCTION: INCREASING CHOICES - DEVELOPING ALLIANCES SAVING LIVES" http://www.harm-reduction.org/events/1305-workshop-qharm-reduction-increasing-choices-developing-alliances-saving-livesq.html

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HIV/AIDS CURRENT ISSUES IN YEREVAN, ARMENIA http://www.harm-reduction.org/events/1327-international-conference-on-hivaids-current-issues-.html

CENTRAL ASIAN WORKSHOP ON THE PREVENTION OF HIV RELATED TO DRUG USE http://www.harm-reduction.org/events/1308-central-asian-workshop-on-the-prevention-of-hiv-related-to-drug-use.html

1^st LATIN AMERICAN CONFERENCE AND 7^th NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DRUG POLICY http://www.harm-reduction.org/events/1328-1st-latin-american-conference-and-7th-national-conference-on-drug-policy.html

THE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR THE 11^th INTERNATIONAL HEPATITIS C CONFERENCE http://www.harm-reduction.org/events/1329-the-call-for-abstracts-for-the-11th-international-hepatitis-c-conference-.html

YORK UNIVERSITY (CANADA) OFFERS A COURSE IN HARM REDUCTION http://www.harm-reduction.org/events/1330-york-university-canada-offers-a-course-in-harm-reduction.html  

***Vacancies***

INTERNATIONAL HIV/AIDS ALLIANCE VACANCY FOR EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA PROGRAMME ASSISTANT http://www.harm-reduction.org/more-vacancies/1331-international-hivaids-alliance-vacancy-for-eastern-europe-and-central-asia-programme-assistant.html

THE UNAIDS PCB NGO DELEGATION IS RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS http://www.harm-reduction.org/more-vacancies/1332-the-unaids-pcb-ngo-delegation-is-recruiting-new-members.html

AFEW IS LOOKING FOR REGIONAL COUNTRY DIRECTOR IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION http://www.harm-reduction.org/more-vacancies/1333-afew-regional- country-director-for-the-russian-federation.html

TEMPORARY RESEARCH VACANCY AT IHRA http://www.harm-reduction.org/more-vacancies/1334-temporary-research-vacancy-at-ihra.html

***Research***

COCAINE USERS RISK GETTING HEPATITIS C http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1338-cocaine-users-risk-getting-hepatitis-c.html

***Publications and videos***

HCLU PRESENTS ITS LATEST MOVIE ON SWEDISH DRUG POLICY http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1306-hclu-presents-its-latest-movie-on-swedish-drug-policy.html

THE GUIDE TO HEPATITIS B FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1307-the-guide-to-hepatitis-b-for-people-living-with-hiv.html

INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY: ANIMATED REPORT 2009 http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1335-international-drug-policy-animated-report-2009.html

OSI GUIDE ON OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1336-osi-guide-on-overdose-prevention-and-assistance-available-in-english-.html

REPORT “DRUGS AND DEMOCRACY: TOWARDS A PARADIGM SHIFT” http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1337-drugs-and-democracy-toward-a-paradigm-shift.html

2008 UNAIDS ANNUAL REPORT: TOWARDS UNIVERSAL ACCESS http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1339-2008-unaids-annual-report-towards-universal-access-.html

HCLU FILM “10 YEARS AFTER UNGASS 1998: THE EASTERN EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE” http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1341-hclu-film-10-years-after-ungass-1998-the-eastern-european-experience-.html

NOT ENOUGH FOR WOMEN. NOT ENOUGH FOR CHILDREN. HIV, VERTICAL TRANSMISSION AND THE HEALTH OF WOMEN http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1342-not-enough-women-not-enough-for-children-hiv-vertical-transmission-and-the-health-of-women-.html

***Links***

ECUO PROVIDES ONLINE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL HIV/ADIS DATA IN 14 COUNTRIES http://www.harm-reduction.org/library/1340-ecuo-provides-online-epidemiological-hivaids-data-in-14-countries.html

******************************************************
This is a digest of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network. It is published monthly and is produced in English and Russian. Feedback, news and comments are welcome at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it