March 17 representatives of Eurasian Movement for the Right to Health in Prisons participated in the 66th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
We discussed challenges and successes in ensuring access to HIV, TB, HCV, OAT and harm reduction services during the side event and have reached 52 people from 31 countries (online) — plus delegates in Vienna.
Prison populations globally present complex healthcare needs including an increased likelihood of infection with Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. People in prison are six times more likely to be living with HIV than the general population while the disproportionate burden of HIV and hepatitis C in prisons remains linked to insufficient access to comprehensive harm reduction services in prisons, among other factors.
At this event, civil society partners from the Informal CSO Group on Health in Prison shared their strategies, successes and challenges for improved health and harm reduction services in prisons in the Philippines, South Africa, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Side event has been organised by Penal Reform International, supported by Belgium, Brazil, Czechia, Mexico, Sweden, UNODC HIV/AIDS Section and the International Drug Policy Consortium.