“Powerful discussion with communities from Eastern Europe & Central Asia. Shrinking civic space and attacks on rights are weakening HIV services and pushing people away from care. Years of progress risk being reversed. @UNAIDS stands with you”, said Eamonn Murphy, Regional Director UNAIDS, Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia about the the side event “Undesirable civil societies – unmet needs: how restrictive regulations and funding cuts threaten access to health in CEECA” (video recording).
The event focused on the shrinking civic space in Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia and its effects on drug policy and community of people using drugs and was organized on 13 March by Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) at the 69th session of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs (9-13 March, Vienna, Austria).
Agenda included:
- Comment on challenges in civil rights and liberties globally and regionally
by Zaved Mahmood, Drug Policy and Human Rights Advisor, Lead on Detention/Incarceration
Rule of Law & Democracy Section, OHCHR. - Comment on shrinking civic space and criminalization effects on HIV response
by Eamonn Murphy, Regional Director UNAIDS, Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. - Comment on intersectionality implications
by Trajche Janushev, Executive director of Sex Workers Rights’ Advocacy Network (SWAN). - Analytical data based on the recently published EHRA report “Shrinking civic space and marginalised populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”
by Ganna Dovbakh, Executive director of Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA). - Country cases from Georgia, Hungary and Kazakhstan on the impact restrictive regulatory environments and shrinking resources have on the ability of community-led and harm reduction organizations to continue delivering health and social care services
by Marina Chokheli, Human rights and harm reduction consultant (Georgia),
Peter Sarosi, Executive Director Rights Reporter Foundation (Hungary) and
Lyubov Vorontsova, Advocacy and Community Advisor, EWNA (Kazakhstan).
Co-sponsors:
