Support. Don't Punish 2023

 

Support. Don't Punish is a global initiative advocating for harm reduction and drug policies that prioritize public health and human rights. The campaign seeks to place harm reduction on the political agenda as well as the rights of people who use drugs, strengthening the mobilising capacity of communities most affected and marginalised by the 'war on drugs', opening dialogue with policy makers and the wider community.

The social, cultural and economic crisis and the lack of investment in social policies, health, more specifically in the public policy sector for drugs; the scarcity of innovation and recent mentions of the criminalisation of consumers, puts the community of people who use drugs back in the unprotected position, experiencing multiple vulnerabilities aggravated since COVID19. Furthermore, prohibitionism is a political paradigm that has been gaining strength around the world and that marginalises, violates, incarcerates and oppresses people who use drugs. We refuse to backtrack on the rights of people who use drugs!

The "Support. Don't Punish takes place on June 26th (International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking). Historically, this date has been used by governments to showcase their "achievements" in coercively controlling communities of people who use drugs. The campaign's Global Day of Action seeks to give voice to the community and reclaim and change the narrative of this day. And so each year, a growing number of activists in hundreds of cities around the world join this unique and multifaceted demonstration against prohibitionism and multiple oppressions.

On this day, we carry out a "fight back" against the "war on drugs" contributing to change the course of history and highlight the community of people who use drugs as protagonists in the definition of more humane policies and services.

We demand 

• rights to women using drugs and their children;
• Opioid Antagonist Treatments accordingly to the principle my treatment my choice;
• Harm reduction paraphernalia for stimulant use;
• HIV presention in Eastern Europe Countries namely through universal needle exchange programs, aslo in prisons;
• Safer spaces for women, trans women and non-binaries using drugs;
• Investment in public health and community organizing instead of funding police and dissuasion;
• Fostering space for peer-led initiatives among drug users organizations in decision making process

On this day we claim more spaces for the politicization of people who use drugs, and more active participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of what concerns us: "nothing about us without us!"

In solidarity

EuroNPUD for June26/ 

#SupportDontPunish #SDP23 

#SDP

idpc EuroNPUD Public Euronpud Sisterwud

Support. Don't Punish.

Happy to have with us in the EuroNPUD team:

ItaNPUD Berlun. Сообщество ЛУН Берлин. Skupina ArealTribe

Metzineres @MANAS LaDrogueria GAT Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos Caso Portugal Chemical Sisters

Δίκτυο Ομότιμων Χρηστών .Ψυχοδ/κων ΟυσιώνPeerNUPS

@FHN Norway @UnieLZZ CZ @MPPP Bulgaria ENPUD

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Tέχνη και υποκατάστατα εν καιρώ πολέμου: #Ουκρανία τώρα...

Ο Γιάνκο Μπελίν,  ο Σλοβένος κινηματογραφιστής  (και δικός μας: από τους πρωτοεμπνευστές του EuroNPUD, του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικτύου ανθρώπων που παίρνουν/έπαιρναν ναρκωτικά)  ταξίδεψε  και κατέγραψε και μας στέλνει μια πρώτη γεύση. Φρέσκο-φρέσκο το σύντομο απόσπασμα, για να πάρουμε μια ιδέα.  

‘Έστω κι αν ακόμα οι υπότιτλοι είναι σε αυτόματη μετάφραση,  είμαι υπερήφανη το μοιράζομαι μαζί σας.

Μια επίσκεψη στη Ζαρίνα. Ζαπορόζυε, Ουκρανίας, Ιούνιος 2023.*

Tέχνη και υποκατάστατα εν καιρώ πολέμου: #Ουκρανία τώρα...

 

Ο Γιάνκο περιγράφει το σύντομο απόσπασμα::«

«Το ταξίδι  στην Ουκρανία ξεκίνησε από το Ζαπορόζυε. Ο συνάδελφός μου Ντένυς  και εγώ επισκεφτήκαμε τη Ζαρίνα καλλιτέχνιδα που δημιουργεί μικρά έργα. 

Αυτό το video είναι μόνο το teaser trailer μια πρώτη γεύση.  Αυτή τη στιγμή όλες οι ηχογραφήσεις βρίσκονται στο μεταφραστικό στάδιο και απομένει πολλή δουλειά ακόμα μέχρι την τελική επεξεργασία του ντοκιμαντέρ.»

 

Ακολουθούν το πρωτότυπο και μετάφραση στα αγγλικά*.

https://youtu.be/pqrFxcps5t0

 

Janko Belin:

                Obisk pri Zarini; Zaporožje, Junij 2023

 “Obisk Ukrajine se je začel v Zaporožju. S kolegom Denysom sva obiskala Zarino, umetnico, ki ustvarja majhne umetnine tako rekoč iz nič. To, kar vidite je zgolj teaser. Trenutno so vsi posnetki v fazi prevajanja in do končne obdelave dokumentarca je še kar nekaj dela.”

 

Notes and translation IN ENGLISH

*A visit to Zarina; Zaporozhye, June 2023

**The visit to Ukraine began in Zaporozhye. My colleague Denys and I visited Zarina, an artist who creates small works of art practically from scratch. What you see is just a teaser. At the moment, all the recordings are in the translation phase and there is still a lot of work to be done before the final processing of the documentary.

Teaser:  https://youtu.be/pqrFxcps5t0

Μια επίσκεψη στο Obisk pri Zarini; Zaporožje, Junij 2023 

Winners of the 2nd annual Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award for 2023

 

As a member of the the Adjudication panel of the second annual Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award for 2023 I am happy  to share the announcement of  the recipients with my warm congratulations and best wishes to both these amazing women:

Jessica Morales from Guatemala 

and 

Kira Watson from Scotland. 

 

The award is dedicated to honouring the memory of Jude Byrne – a fearless drug user activist who fought tirelessly for the rights of people who use drugs.  

Members of the Adjudication panel were:

1.   Judy Chang (INPUD)

2.   Mary Harrod (NUAA)

3.   Tracy Swan (INHSU)

4.   Daphne Chronopoulou (EuroNPUD)

5.   Annie Madden (INPUD)

.

We had 20 excellent submissions from 11 countries. . To those who entered and were not successful this year, thank you for trusting the process and including yourselves. 

 

Please see the link below to find out more about the award and the winners. 

 

Second Annual Jude Byrne Award Recognises Outstanding Emerging Female Leaders - INHSU

 

Sign On: Homophobia & Transphobia Are A Public Health Crisis

 

Please sign here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDBlNI3Vg_S7o7Q8TgBFFbTSqHlGg-UaftJ2Jtl_edJDN5vA/viewform

Sign On: Homophobia & Transphobia Are A Public Health Crisis

Homophobia & Transphobia are a Public Health Crisis 

We the undersigned believe that homophobia and transphobia constitute a public health crisis globally. Homophobia and transphobia are killing LGBTQ people. The oppression of LGBTQ people has profound negative consequences on physical and mental health, the ability to access quality healthcare, and the ability to be an active member of society. Furthermore, the oppression of LGBTQ people has profound negative consequences for broader community health. We call on public health officials and government leaders, public and private sectors to recognize homophobia and transphobia as a public health crisis and to act.  

Homophobia and transphobia threaten the lives, rights and dignity of LGBTQ persons globally. Violence, lack of social protections, insufficient healthcare access, and social exclusion cause immense harm. LGBTQ persons are persistently more likely to experience violence than heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. The experience of violence, threat of criminal persecution, and discrimination exponentially create more mental health stressors and increase risk of suicide for LGBTQ people. In many countries, LGBTQ persons have no access to appropriate and adequate healthcare.  

The real-world consequences of homophobia and transphobia has been a criminalization of same sex sexual behavior and gender diversity, structural discrimination, denial of healthcare, stigma, violence, torture, and execution. The HIV pandemic – now in its fourth decade - is an ongoing example of how the systemic oppression of a group of people can cause a society wide public health crisis.  

Homophobia and transphobia are intricately linked. The rise in anti-trans legislation in many countries resulting from the increased power and geographical reach of anti-gender movement globally, and the banning or restriction of LGBTQ visibility in books and social media in some countries demonstrate how inextricably these forces are linked. Where sexuality and gender are strictly policed, LGBTQ individuals face additional vulnerabilities in employment, housing, education, and safety. 

Our Demands 

In light of the public health crisis caused by homophobia and transphobia, we collectively demand:  

• A declaration by public health agencies that recognizes homophobia and transphobia are a public health crisis; 

• Public health agencies resource interventions to end homophobia and transphobia;  

• Resources for LGBTQ-led organizations to organize LGBTQ people to resist homophobia and transphobia; 

• Elected officials to recognize the public health crisis and advocate against homophobia and transphobia; 

• Media partners to highlight the ways that homophobia and transphobia persist in contemporary society, including the increasing levels of violence against LGBTQ persons; and  

• Further community-engaged research on the health impacts of homophobia and transphobia.

MPact Global and GATE are leading this initiative to have homophobia and transphobia declared a public health crisis. This call is supported by organizations in every region of the world. 

MPact is a catalyst for creating change among global gay, bisexual, and gender diverse communities. MPact  works with  community partners around the world to educate, empower, and mobilize queer communities to improve the health and wellness of gay, bisexual, and queer folks and advance human rights. 

GATE is an international advocacy organization working towards justice and equality for trans, gender diverse, and intersex (TGDI) communities. Rooted in our movements, we work collaboratively with strategic partners at the international, regional, and national levels to ensure access to resources, knowledge, and decision-making spaces. GATE envisions a world free from human rights violations based on gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics. We aim to ensure that trans, gender diverse, and intersex (TGDI) people can enjoy their human rights and achieve the highest level of health and wellbeing possible. GATE focuses on advocating for the human rights of trans, gender diverse, and intersex people, while also playing a pivotal role in strengthening the global trans, gender diverse, and intersex (TGDI) movements through training, capacity building, resource mobilization and political mobilization. Additionally, GATE prioritizes its institutional strengthening to ensure that we can continue to grow and develop as the leading advocacy and expert organization advancing the rights, health, and well-being of trans, gender diverse, and intersex (TGDI) people in a sustainable way. 

Please Sign: Collection of supports for the continuation of the Action Plan on drugs in Reus

 

H Καταλωνία έχει εδώ και δεκαετίες ένα προοδευτικότατο νόμο για τη χρήση ουσιών, ο οποίος έχει δώσει δυνατότητα σε πολλούς ανθρώπους να επιβιώσουν και να ζήσουν με αξιοπρέπεια.

Υπεύθυνη κατά πολύ ήταν η Δρ Tre Borras που άδικα απολύθηκε από τη σημαντική της θέση ως Διευθύντρια Υπηρεσιών Ναρκοεξάρτησης και Διανοητικής Υγείας.

 

Ας υπογράψουμε να διορθωθεί η αδικία. Τη χρειαζόμαστε τη γιατρό μας.

 

Catalonia has had an innovative and pioneering harm reduction approach for several decades now. There is no doubt that this is the reason that so many people have been able to access the support they need to live healthier and better lives.

 

This has been possible in the most part due to the work that has been done by the Dr Tre Borras over many years. She has now been unfairly dismissed from the position as the Director of the Drug Dependence and Mental Health Services for the hospital of Reus for robustly defending this model of approach which has positively impacted so many people who may not be alive today had it not been for the work of Dr Borras. 

 

This action is not just unfair but also risks a lifesaving and changing model of intervention which is community based and innovative being put at risk.  

We would appreciate if you could take just a couple of minutes from your day to sign this petition of support and share: https://forms.office.com/e/nee4Futh4E

 

In praise of the model of drug dependence services in Reus.

The news of the dismissal of Dr. Tre Borràs Cabacés as director of the Drug Dependence and Mental Health Service (core to the plan of action on drugs of the city of Reus), came as a great surprise. The destitution –announced by the head of Reus’ Sant Joan Hospital to which the service is attached– appears as a clear disavow of the approach and direction followed so far.

The surprise comes from our awareness that the Service has unfolded a successful  array of intervention in the field of drug use, that have become a model thanks to their comprehensiveness –precisely that quality so prised and preached by policymakers–:

 - Based on an understanding of drugs as a complex phenomenon, Dr. Borràs’ Service has consolidated assistance continuously fed back, and connected to cutting-edge research (for example, with regards to the use of ibogaine);

 - a strong commitment to risks and harm reduction policies, which are the future of interventions when applied to all aspects in the field;

 - a community-based and interdisciplinary approach allowing the Service to articulate the biomedical and social aspects associated with drug use phenomena and disorders processes they need to attend;

 - a notable presence in local, national, and international networks, root to the Service’s recognized impact and continuous innovations.

All this with clear leadership, strengthening the project as a whole.

A measure like the one that has motivated this letter appears to us as extremely negative, when acknowledging that in this Reus, beyond the speeches and statements, the praised concepts of interdisciplinarity, management of complexity, comprehensiveness, socio-sanitary articulation, community-based intervention, leadership capacity, etc., have become an interesting reality (including an example at an international level), fully embedded into Catalonia’s Public Health system.

For all these reasons, we call for the continuity of the model represented by the Reus Action Plan on Drugs.

Please SIGN here:  https://forms.office.com/e/nee4Futh4E

The Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award

 

As a member of the adjudication panel for this award I want to to share it with you that there is still time for you to apply (Applications will close on 16 March 2023 at 5:00 PM PDT).

We are proud to honour Jude’s memory via this award, now in its second year, which aims to help foster expertise and resilience in the next generation of female leaders.

Jude served as an INHSU and INPUD board member and made countless valuable contributions to our network and community.

The award will be provided to two recipients who identify as female in recognition of their contribution to the community of people who use drugs

The award includes a mentorship program – a unique professional development opportunity that supports emerging female leaders and celebrates advocacy efforts internationally. There will be $10,000 USD per awardee allocated to supporting participation in the program

The Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award was developed by INHSU and INPUD (The International Network of People Who Use Drugs) in remembrance of Jude Byrne, a globally recognised, powerful advocate who fought to advance the health and human rights of people who use drugs.

The five panel members for the 2023 round are:

Judy Chang (INPUD)

Mary Harrod (NUAA)

Tracy Swan (INHSU)

Daphne Chronopoulou (EuroNPUD)

Annie Madden (INPUD)

You can read more (english, french, spanish, russian):

https://www.inhsu.org/what-we-do/advocating-for-change/the-jude-byrne-emerging-female-leader-award/

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