Harm Reduction Convention

We are not criminals!

Background• More that 55 years passed since Single UN

Convention on Narcotic Drugs

• Almost 3 decades since last update

Common FactsCriminalization of drug users has

proven to be ineffective and a counterproductive answer to the drug problem

Criminalization of the drug users is leading them to the further marginalization and social exclusion

Common FactsHarm Reduction is proven to be a

useful strategy in tackling many of drugs problems

Harm Reduction measures are effectively reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other blood related diseases

Common FactsSubstitution programs and

experimental schemes of drugs distribution are:

helping to stabilize lives and are leading drug users towards the social inclusion

limiting the foundings of criminal and terrorist organizations

reducing crimes that are being commited to obtain money for illicit drugs

Common Facts Drug consumption rooms that are existing

in some Member States are limiting health risks of illicit drug use

Alarming rise of new synthetic substances and the need to effectively handle their usage through testing the purity of drugs

Common Facts Inadequate access to Harm Reduction

programs in some of the Member States, mostly in the Central and Eastern Europe

A need to further expand accessibility and variety of Harm Reduction measures

Common Facts

Some of the Harm Reduction measures require depenelization or decriminalization of possession of illicit drugs for personal use

ACTIONSEstablishment of Harm Reduction, as primary and

leading strategy in all of the Member States

ACTIONSCreation of a special budget line for Harm

Reduction programs and a support of further debate on drug policies

ACTIONSA guarantee of an equal and broad access to all of

the Harm Reduction measures including but not being limited to:

needle exchange substitution therapy testing purity of drugs consumption rooms experimental drug distribution schemes

ACTIONSA stop to the actions such as punishing

recreational and problematic drug users for the possession of illicit drugs for personal usage.

Harm Reduction Convention

http://hrconvention.org/