On the June 22, 2009 the new members of the Steering Committee and the members you already know 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).

Now the Steering Committee of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network consists of:

Central Asia – Vera Sergunina (Kazakhstan), Aisuluu Bolotbaeva (Kyrgyzstan)

Russia – Dasha Ocheret, Kaleria Lavrova (coordinator)

Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova – Natalia Kitsenko (Ukraine), Oleg Aizberg (Belarus)

Southeast Europe – Eleonora Stojanovik (Macedonia), Genci Mucollari (Albania)

Central Europe – Denes Balazs (Hungary), Katarina Jiresova (Slovakia)

Baltic states – Aleksandras Slatvickis (Lithuania)

The Caucasus -  David Otiashvili (Georgia)

Drug User community – Olga Belyaeva (Ukraine), Konstantine Labartkava (Georgia).

Olga Belyaeva and Konstantine Labartkava – representatives from drug user community, who will present community interests in the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network Steering Committee. DU representatives are elected for first time for 3 year term and these candidates are approved by INPUD (International Network of the People who Use Drugs).

Olga Belyaeva - president of the all-Ukrainian public organization “Association of the replacement therapy program participants in Ukraine” and president of the Board “Virtus” Foundation (Dnepropetrovsk).

Olga Belyaeva: “The philosophy of harm reduction has changed the quality of my life and the life of my country – Ukraine – and made it better for drug users. Being an active follower of the principles of harm reduction, tolerance, humanism, personal rights and freedom observance, I have been engaged in advocacy and aid to drug users for over 10 years.”

Konstantine Labartkava – Head of the NGO New Vector.

Konstantine Labartkava: “My personal and organizational experience makes me able to present the interests, demands of IDUS, existing legislation and drug policy.”

Vera Sergunina comes from Kazakhstan, she is elected by the network members of the Central Asia Region. Aisuluu is appointed for the position of Andrey Andreev, former representative of the region in EHRN.

Vera Sergunina – head of Organization “Women legislation Center”.

Vera Sergunina: "My wish to participate in work of the Steering Committee is motivated by the fact that I am very concerned about the epidemiological situation and the growth of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kazahstan. I possess extensive experience in review and development of programs and projects, assessment the socially important projects, advocacy, as well as experience in analysis and lobbying for legislation. I hope that my experience will be useful in carrying out my work in EHRN."

Dasha Ocheret – comes from Russia, she is elected by the network members of Russia. Dasha takes the position of the real regional committee member Kaleria Lavrova, that was the representative of the region for three years in EHRN. Kaleria Lavrova will stay in the SC as coordinator till the new SC coordinator will be elected.

Dasha Ocheret – Coordinator of Grand Nord program Medecins du Monde (France), drug policy coordinator Eurasian Harm  Reduction Network.

Dasha Ocheret: "I hope that my experience in harm reduction - as an outreach worker, information manager, coach, head of self-injecting drug users, coordinator for advocacy in the field of drug policy - will prove useful for the development of the work that EHRN has been successfully carrying out in recent years."

Nataliya Kitsenko comes from Ukraine, she is elected by the network members of the BUM Region. Natalia is appointed on the position of Nikolai Gagarkin, former representative of the region in EHRN.

Natalya Kitsenko is the director at the HIV/AIDS and Drug Issues Department in Odessa Charity Fund "The Way Home". Natalya has been involved in harm reduction activities since 1996. She was a part of the action team, which participated in the establishment of the first pilot harm reduction project in Odessa (Ukraine). Since 2003 Natalya conducts various trainings and coordinates projects associated with harm reduction ("HIV/AIDS response in Odessa region", "Harm Reduction in Prison" and others), and also is engaged in research work in Ukraine and other countries of CIS.

Nataliya Kitsenko: "I intend to bring the voice of Ukrainian organizations engaged in harm reduction to the Steering Committee. Also, it is important to provide management of harm reduction projects at various levels and assist with IDU community mobilization."

Katarina Jiresova (Slovakia) and David Otiashvili (Georgia) were reelected again by members from their regions, and are going to represent the interests of the region in the steering committee for the next three years.

We congratulate all the members of the Steering Committee!

To read the CVs and the motivational correspondence of the Steering Committee visit: www.harm-reduction.org, the Steering committee part.