The Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA) has concluded the Preparatory Meeting for the Development of a Manual on Harm Reduction for Religious Leaders. This meeting took place from the 10th until the 12th of June at Le Commodore Hotel in Beirut, Lebanon. The meeting was composed of numerous Christian and Muslim leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as well as the MENAHRA team. The religious leaders included 14 participants from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia. The meeting was facilitated by the consultant, Ms. Rana Haddad.

The main objective of this meeting was the development of a manual on harm reduction for communication with people who use drugs and their surrounding communities. The manual is aimed towards all religious leaders of the MENA region.

On the first day of the meeting, the MENAHRA Network Coordinator, Ms. Micheline Abou Chrouch, presented a session in which the results of the initial Religious Leaders Meeting were discussed which included the Declaration that the group developed. The participants proposed ways in which to alter and adapt the Declaration further. The religious leaders also suggested points to create a workplan to be included in the manual.

On the second day, the participants discussed the goals and aims of the manual including the main issues that need to be presented in the publication.

On the third day, the discussion was commenced around harm reduction and religious leaders. The main topic of the day’s work revolved around the religious leader’s role in providing support and positive interaction with people who use drugs. The outline and production stages of the manual were discussed and agreed upon.

In conclusion of the meeting, the participants stressed the need to promote the role of religious leaders in the support to the community of people who use drugs and increasing the presence of harm reduction in the MENA region