Pubdate: Wed, 11 Apr 2007
Source: Statesman, The (India)
Copyright: 2007 The Statesman
Contact:  http://www.thestatesman.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3261
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

JOINT EFFORT TO CHECK HIV SPREAD

KOLKATA -- The Union government will extend its support to the "harm 
reduction" measures endorsed by the World Health Organisation and the 
UNAIDS to minimise the spread of HIV among Injecting Drug Users 
(IDUs), though these measures are not supported by the existing laws 
of the country.

Over the last two decades, Saarc countries have witnessed an increase 
in HIV cases among IDUs. To stem the epidemic, several countries in 
the region have introduced measures like oral substitution programmes 
for IDUs. The positive outcomes of such harm reduction measures are 
endorsed by the WHO and the UNAIDS. However, these interventions are 
sometimes challenged as they do not fall within the bounds of the 
existing narcotics and penal laws of the country.

Convener of the Parliamentary Forum on HIV/AIDS, Mr Oscar Fernandes, 
however, said on yesterday: "The Union government and the 
Parliamentary Forum extends its support to these interventions. We 
are trying to bring the legislators of the country together to 
discuss these issues".

He was speaking at a function organised by the United Nations Office 
on Drugs and Crime to release a report titled "Legal and Policy 
Concerns related to IDU Harm Reduction in Saarc countries".

The report was prepared by Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS unit, an NGO 
commissioned by the UNODC.

Mr Fernandes also said he will raise the issues in a conference of 
International Labour Organisation scheduled in Geneva this year and 
discuss with the labour ministers of several countries on the 
sidelines of the conference. The report examines the interface 
between law, policy and IDU harm reduction practices in Bangladesh, 
Bhutan India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It also 
suggests potential measures to harmonise IDU harm reduction with the 
existing law.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman