MENAHRA (Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association) participated as a panelist in a side event at the 67th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (#CND67HumanRights). The event, titled “Addressing Human Rights Challenges Related to Drug Use in Humanitarian & Crisis Settings,” was coordinated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and SKOUN serving as the lead organizer in cooperation with various organizations and countries.
The panelists included MENAHRA, the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association, WHO FPS Belgium (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control), and IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies). These organizations played a significant role in highlighting the challenges faced by people who use drugs in humanitarian and crisis settings and discussing potential solutions.
The event was supported by various entities, including the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), the Agence Française de Développement, the Alliance for Public Health, the Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad, the Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, Harm Reduction International, the International Network of People who Use Drugs, the Open Society Foundations, the Skoun Lebanese
The focus of this side event was to shed light on the impact of the humanitarian crisis on people who use drugs, while also discussing the gaps and challenges in providing adequate humanitarian responses. The discussions revolved around the compounding vulnerabilities these individuals face in such settings, primarily due to criminalization and repressive policies. The event emphasized the importance of integrating harm reduction services into crisis response plans and programming as a means to address these challenges effectively
This side event was part of a comprehensive program of CND side events supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), based on the 2023 report on human rights in drug policy. A detailed program of events and a booklet summarizing the report can be accessed at bit.ly/humanrights-cnd67.
During the panel discussion, Mr. Elie Aaraj, Executive Director of MENAHRA, shared valuable insights on various topics. He emphasized the need for improvement in human rights policies, specifically focusing on opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in countries in the MENA region. Mr. Aaraj also discussed the importance of needle and syringe programs (NSPs) in Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco, as well as the Presidential initiative in Egypt to eliminate Hepatitis C, which includes harm reduction services and upcoming long-acting buprenorphine and low-dead-space syringe projects.
Furthermore, Mr. Aaraj highlighted the efforts to eradicate HIV among people who inject drugs (PWUD) in Lebanon and discussed the significant threats and obstacles faced by countries dealing with the highest number of refugees and displaced people. He specifically mentioned the challenges arising from conflicts such as the war in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the instability faced by countries like Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. In addition to these challenges, he underscored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, and the devastating Beirut blast in Lebanon.
Lessons learned from these experiences were also shared during the panel discussion. Mr. Aaraj stressed the importance of including the needs of people who use drugs in national emergency preparedness plans (EPPs) and the necessity for greater flexibility, especially during times of crisis and epidemics. He advocated for the integration of harm reduction services into primary healthcare centers and emphasized the need for sustainable access to opioid agonist therapy. Additionally, he underscored the significance of fostering systematic collaboration between civil society organizations (CSOs) and relevant stakeholders in the public sector.
In conclusion, MENAHRA’s participation as a panelist in this side event at the 67th Commission on Narcotic Drugs showcased the critical role of harm reduction and human rights in addressing the challenges faced by people who use drugs in humanitarian and crisis settings. The event called for increased support from the United Nations and international donors to aid countries in crisis, such as Lebanon, and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to ensure the well-being and rights of individuals who use drugs during times of adversity.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/YSd0nk5vVeU?si=-jQ25GU20Zg-TBcI
