The main theme of the 48th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs was HIV/AIDS prevention among drug users. However, none of the adopted resolutions mentioned harm reduction or syringe exchange. Two reprepresentatives of HCLU participated as members of the OSI delegation, read their short report on the event.
Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is a pragmatic and compassionate approach to people who use licit and illicit drugs. As a principle it is applied in several other areas of life, for example when you fasten your seat-belts in a car to reduce the risk of injuries. Policies and services based on harm reduction respect the dignity and freedom of human beings and help them to stay healthy and alive even if they choose to continue using drugs. A very obvious example is to distribute clean needles among people who use drugs to prevent hepatitis C and HIV infections. Harm reduction programs should be part of an integrated social and healthcare system. But harm reduction is much more than just a set of services - it is a movement for freedom and social justice applied in the field of drug policy. Drugreporter is a chronicle of this movement.
HCLU Conference and Legal Training (13-14 November 2004)
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union organized its annual legal training and conference for drug treatment providers and researchers between 13 and 14 November, 2004.
HUNGARIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SAYS: “THERE IS NO RIGHT TO BE HIGH”
BUDAPEST 13 December 2004 – The Constitutional Court of Hungary in a 7 to 2 vote rejected the proposals claiming that drug laws that punish possession of drugs for personal use are unconstitutional. The Court accepted another proposals’ argumentation against certain forms of diversion treatment. According to the resolution, nobody has a right to be high, therefore criminal prosecution against drug users is not unconstitutional.
