On October 29, 2024, UnMode participated in the presentation of the Global Harm Reduction Report 2024 from Harm Reduction International. This biennial report examines key issues and achievements in supporting people who use drugs, with a special focus on access to services for Indigenous populations, prisoners, youth, and people with viral hepatitis. Despite the presence of harm reduction programs in 108 countries, significant challenges remain in funding, service accessibility, and the continued criminalization of drug use.
Speakers at the webinar included Sam Rivera (OnPoint NYC), Colleen Daniels (Harm Reduction International), Charity Monareng (Students for Sensible Drug Policy International), Vince Ludmila (UnMode), and Tracey Potiki (Whare Tukutuku National Māori Addiction Centre), who discussed key challenges and the need to expand funding and inclusive approaches.
Ludmila Vince presented the findings from UnMode’s ongoing monitoring of prisoner rights violations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, focusing on access to harm reduction services, HIV treatment, tuberculosis, and hepatitis care.
She highlighted negative examples, such as Belarus, where harm reduction programs have been unavailable in prisons since 2018, and russia, where such programs have never existed. Also discussed were challenges in countries showing positive dynamics in recent years to improve conditions for people who use drugs: in Moldova, there have been reports of service interruptions within prisons, and in Georgia, restrictions on free OAT programs for non-citizens have increased the criminalization of migrants who use drugs, thereby contributing to prison overcrowding.
There were also notable positive examples: despite the war, harm reduction programs have been introduced in some detention centers in Ukraine through civil society efforts. Organizers highlighted the harm reduction program in Odessa’s detention center, referencing the Ukrainian NGO FREEZONE. We were pleased to share the successes of our partners — “Meridian” in Poltava and “VOLNa,” through which OAT programs have operated in Poltava’s detention center since 2023 and in Chernihiv since 2024. As always, these community groups remain at the forefront, driving positive changes.
We thank Harm Reduction International for the opportunity to discuss these vital issues within our community and believe our joint efforts will help improve access to harm reduction programs in prisons.
https://hri.global/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGOzhtleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXcH4354H2UuyjH_EFia_M2fKbyeKJBWbIaS4y9UK6V6R06C5w-MSLFlvw_aem_Zolsbv3np6ergpLAfqPC7Q