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Rhetoric and Risk: Harm Reduction, Human Rights, and HIV/AIDS in Ukraine

Rhetoric and Risk: Harm Reduction, Human Rights, and HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. Rebecca Schleifer Human Rights Watch August 17, 2005. Why Ukraine?. Public health evidence Political opportunity Seriousness and prevalence of abuses Network of partners on the ground. Policing and HIV Risk.

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Rhetoric and Risk: Harm Reduction, Human Rights, and HIV/AIDS in Ukraine

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  1. Rhetoric and Risk: Harm Reduction, Human Rights, and HIV/AIDS in Ukraine Rebecca Schleifer Human Rights Watch August 17, 2005

  2. Why Ukraine? • Public health evidence • Political opportunity • Seriousness and prevalence of abuses • Network of partners on the ground

  3. Policing and HIV Risk • Arrest campaigns targeting drug users, sex workers • Use of addiction to coerce testimony • Harassment and abuse of drug users at syringe exchange points

  4. Barriers to Substitution Therapy: The Treatment Gap Source: World Health Organization

  5. Barriers to Substitution Therapy • Government failure to provide access to substitution therapy: no methadone limited buprenorphine • Sharing patient information with police

  6. Barriers to ARV Therapy • Injection drug users “significantly unable to access treatment in Ukraine.” • Outright denial of ARV to injection drug users • Discriminatory and abusive treatment - drug users don’t seek health care - drug users deprived of information and access to ARV

  7. Abuses against People Living with HIV/AIDS in Health Care • Discriminatory and degrading health care provision • Denial of health care services Refusal to provide TB care to people living with HIV/AIDS

  8. Key Recommendations (1) • Ensure access to other HIV/AIDS and harm reduction information and services • Stop police harassment and arbitrary arrest and detention of drug users and sex workers • End discrimination in health care services to drug users and people living with HIV/AIDS

  9. Key Recommendations (2) • Implement substitution therapy programs • Work with drug users, sex workers, and people living with HIV/AIDS to understand and enforce their rights to health, freedom from violence

  10. For more information, contact: Rebecca Schleifer HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Program Human Rights Watch schleir@hrw.org

  11. And read “Rhetoric and Risk: Human Rights Abuses Impeding Ukraine’s Fight against HIV/AIDS,” Or visit Human Rights Watch’s website, www.hrw.org

  12. Human Rights and HIV/AIDS Now More than Ever

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