The Second Regional Consultation on Law Enforcement and the HIV Response, organized by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), began today 21 November 2016 at the Lancaster Plaza Hotel in Beirut, Lebanon. The meeting is co-hosted by the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA), Law Enforcement and HIV Network (LEAHN), Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The consultation is attended by representatives from law enforcement agencies as well as representatives from civil society organizations from seven countries (Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, and Tunisia).
The aim of the consultation is to review the evidence of the value to both police and the community of harm reduction policing as well as the review of the potential and actual role of police as partners in the HIV response in the MENA region, and to make recommendations for strengthening the police role as partners in the HIV response in the MENA region.
In his opening remarks, the MENAHRA Executive Director, Mr. Elie Aaraj, stated that laws are created and that we have an obligation to help people who use drugs and not stigmatize them, marginalize them, or discriminate against them. The situation of HIV/AIDS is not only a concern of the law but more importantly a public health and human rights concern. Finally, he stated that MENAHRA is here today to work with our partners to exchange experiences both on regional and international levels.
The IDLO Senior Legal Expert, Mr. David Patterson, noted that this consultation is important for the region and that we have an obligation to provide credible recommendations to continue these efforts. He noted, ‘the role of the State in public health is well-recognized – this includes the role of police in the national response to HIV in every country.’
This consultation is being held in Beirut as a pre-conference event prior to MENAHRA’s 3rd Regional Conference on Harm Reduction. The conference will take place from the 23rd to the 25th of November 2016 at the Lancaster Plaza Hotel – Beirut, Lebanon, under the theme “Reduce Harm, Ensure Rights.”
