Drug Policy and HIV Prevention
in Russia
CIRA Law, Policy and Ethics (LPE) and
International Research (IR) Mini-Conference
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
In the last several years, we have all been witness to explosive epidemics
of drug injection and HIV infection in Russia that are cultivated at the
intersection of law, their interpretation into policies, and their enforcement
in the context of rapid social change. This challenging environment has
created many obstacles to mounting a sound public health response to stem
the spread of infection. More than ever, we appreciate the importance of
reliable program evaluation and scientific research on the epidemiology
and social determinants of risk for HIV transmission. Furthermore, we must
understand the influence of the social structure and the importance of human
rights in adding perspective to our research and evaluation.
This conference was motivated by precisely these
needs. This event was designed to be part conference and part workshop.
The intent was to learn from each other, as well as pool our collective
knowledge to develop actionable plans. We brought together experts in law,
human rights, drug use and community research, harm reduction, and biomedicine.
All of whom have an abiding interest and experience in working in the Russian
Federation. The conference was organized by Robert
Heimer, Ph.D., and Kevin Irwin, M.A.
Each session on the first day of the conference was followed by a discussion
to clarify key issues, identify what is scientifically valid, describe what
policy implications flow from the current research, and identify where more
research is needed. The second day of the conference sought to place research
needs in the context of international partnerships and the recent influx
of donor funding.
This conference was co-sponsored
by the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), CIRA's Law,
Policy and Ethics Core, and CIRA's International Research Core
To learn more about CIRA's Law, Policy and Ethics Core and its mini-conference
series, click
here.
GOALS
The specific goals of the mini-conference were:
- To establish a clear articulation of the current drug control laws and policies in Russia.
- To describe the current state of harm reduction in Russia, the impact of shifting drug policy, and the current relevant research being conducted on HIV risk and prevention.
- To identify specific areas of need for further research
- To develop strategies for translating research into practice and policy.
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