Parallel Sessions

Tuesday

09h00

Drug policy in Africa: Can Divest/Invest be our next strategy?

Queens 1&2

This event is for government, policy makers & invited guests. ​Contact Colleen Daniels for further information: 
​Colleen.Daniels@hri.global​

​HRI will co-host a high-level side event to advocate for harm reduction service implementation in the region and to raise awareness of the need to review drug policy and highlight colonial laws and policies still in place. African Union representation will attend, alongside MPs and other regional decision-makers. The meeting provides an opportunity for a high-level discussion on the key issues facing countries in the region with regard to drug policy and an opportunity to advocate for investment in harm reduction. It will also raise the question of how to divest from punitive drug policies to those rooted in community, health and justice.

Tuesday

09h00

Cannabis Africana: Cultures of Consumption of Cannabis in Africa

Harlem

​This session explores the different ways in which cannabis is understood and consumed in various regions in Africa while reflecting on the potential benefits and problems that have resulted from its changing legal and moral status. Cannabis has for instance clear economic potential, however formulating exactly how to tap into this value has led to legislative uncertainty and confusion. Despite this its use remains deeply entrenched and meaningful to many, symbolically standing for everything from political resistance to high-end consumerism. The session will further highlight the work done by a collaborative academic research project - "Cannabis Africana: Drugs and Development in Africa" - by colleagues from the Universities of Cape Town and Bristol while drawing on the experiences of a selection of guest speakers. This hybrid session is open to all, with speakers touching on a range of topics and reflecting on their involvement from a range of cannabis-related industries and organisations.

Wednesday

09h00

Community Advocacy for Decriminalisation & Harm Reduction Resources

​Harlem

If you are joining this session please click here

​SANPUD will lead this interactive community-led session Participants will gain insight into how community networks operate in resource-limited settings while facing stigma and exclusion. To get a rapid understanding of the topic, there will be a series of speed-geek presentations covering community collaboration, advocacy through action, addressing community needs, knowledge sharing as advocacy and the importance of budget advocacy. Participants will hear about the challenges and successes community peers experience as they advocate for change across sectors, platforms and organisations.

Wednesday

09h00

UNODC LDAC Follow-up meeting

Queens 1&2

UPDATED PROGRAM:
​
The CESCR briefing will be part of the Closing Plenary. The Wednesday slot is now a follow up meeting to the UNODC LDAC workshop held on Monday 14 August. 

Thursday

09h00

The Role of Civil Society Organizations: Evidence from South, East and West Africa.

Queens 1&2

Many African governments prioritise prohibition, overlooking the escalating public health impacts these policies have generated. The extent of funding these governments would allocate towards harm reduction and other progressive strategies, which focus on healthcare and the rights of drug users, remains uncertain.
Over the years, African Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have played a pivotal role in advocating for and implementing drug policy programs. These organisations have supported knowledge-building initiatives grounded in evidence to promote harm reduction.
In the past decade, countries across Africa, including South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mauritius, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Seychelles, and others, have either implemented or begun to implement harm reduction strategies. Donors such as the Global Fund have primarily funded these programs and services.
This side event is designed to share knowledge and experiences regarding the role of CSOs as agents of transformational change in drug policy reform and the implementation of harm reduction strategies in Africa.

Thurday

09h00

Financing of Harm Reduction Programming

Harlem

Organised by NACOSA, this session will cover the critical area of financing for harm reduction services in South Africa and share important lessons with and from other regions. Many countries have an over-reliance on foreign donor funding, especially funding from the Global Fund. Considering the competing priorities for health and social funding, Civil Society is the best way of ensuring sustainable HIV, TB and other related services for vulnerable and key populations. Advocating for and ensuring that governments gear themselves for and commit to social contracting is imperative. A panel of expert speakers, facilitated by NACOSA’s Key Populations Manager, Yolaan Andrews, will discuss the current and future state of funding for critical services and suggest ways of ensuring how to ensure the sustainability of services.