On September 9 and 10, 2024, Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN), in collaboration with Drugreporter, hosted an Advocacy Workshop for harm reductionists in Budapest. You can now watch the recap video of the event here!
This workshop brought together Focal Points from Correlation’s 2024 and upcoming 2025 City Reports, featuring Warsaw, Bălţi, Esch-sur-Alzette, London, and Bratislava, as well as contributors to the 2023 case study research “Level and Quality of Civil Society Involvement in Drug Policy”, from Finland, Greece, and Hungary.
The City Reports are a core part of C-EHRN’s Civil Society-led Monitoring of Harm Reduction, providing a detailed look at innovative harm reduction initiatives and pressing challenges in five European cities. These reports can serve as advocacy tools to engage policymakers and drive improvements in local drug policy.
In parallel, the 2023 case study research evaluates how civil society is involved in drug policy decisions, building on principles set by the Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD) in 2021. This study examines the implementation of Quality Standards for Civil Society Involvement in Drug Policy across Europe, with a focus on four European countries: Finland, Greece, Hungary and Ireland.
In the framework of the ongoing Advocacy Mentorship Project, the Budapest workshop provided a collaborative platform for harm reduction organisations to openly discuss their advocacy efforts. During the first session, participants shared updates on their work, highlighting progress and identifying areas for future focus. The second session, dedicated to capacity building, offered practical training on media communication. Participants engaged in tailored exercises, including test TV interviews, to improve their media skills and refine their advocacy messages.
For those interested in improving their advocacy skills, a webinar series was organised earlier in 2024, also in the framework of the Advocacy Mentorship Project, with the recording of the four sessions available here!
Video: István Gábor Takács
Text: Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network
