People Before Politics: 4 Key Points in HR19’s Opening Ceremony

The Harm Reduction International Conference 2019 (HR19) has begun in Porto, with several influential speakers delivering inspiring and poignant remarks at the opening ceremony.

HR19 comes at a crucial moment in the development of drug policies across the globe. Many countries find themselves at a drug policy crossroads; do they pursue health and human rights-oriented approaches that reduce potential drug harms, or maintain policies of criminalisation and repression that have long-characterised the global drug war?

Here are four key points from the opening ceremony that highlight the need for a harm reductionist approach: Failed drug policies continue to kill millions around the world - Governments’ complacency is fuelling drug harms - Governments continue to commit egregious human rights abuses in the name of drug policy - Drug consumption rooms (DCRs) have arrived in Portugal! The country continues to serve as an important example of how countries can move forward in their drug policy. (TalkingDrugs, UK, 28.04.2019)

https://www.talkingdrugs.org/people-before-politics-4-key-points-in-hr19s-opening-ceremony