The Association Bienestar y Desarrollo (ABD Group) has joined the initiative led by the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD), Harm Reduction International (HRI), and the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), addressed to the World Health Organization (WHO)
ABD Group is endorsing the letter promoted by INPUD, HRI, and IDPC, urging the WHO to safeguard its dedicated capacity and leadership on harm reduction at a time when budget and staffing cuts threaten to undermine its role.
The document, signed by civil society organisations from around the world, calls on WHO to protect its expertise, leadership, and presence in the field of harm reduction, in a context of severe financial and staffing cuts that risk weakening its historic role.
The letter recalls that WHO was a pioneer among United Nations agencies in supporting and promoting harm reduction, developing key guidelines and endorsing evidence-based policies that have contributed to saving lives from preventable risks such as HIV, hepatitis C, overdoses, and other drug-related harms. The text stresses that “this is a crucial moment to defend that legacy and ensure that public health policies continue to put people at the centre.”
The initiative also highlights the need to ensure the meaningful involvement of people who use drugs in decision-making processes and policy design, as well as to avoid setbacks in funding and political commitment to harm reduction.
Organisations interested in joining this global call can do so until Wednesday, September 3 (end of day) through the following form.
The final letter will be sent to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus on Thursday, September 4.
ABD Group encourages other organisations and collectives to share this invitation across their networks, to strengthen the collective message of support for harm reduction as an essential component of people-centred public health responses.
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