The objectives for Harm Reduction 2009: IHRA’s 20th International Conference – including the event itself, the months leading up to it, and the period after the conference – are as follows:
1. To enable the exchange of knowledge about new scientific research and evidence on psychoactive drug use (including alcohol and tobacco), drug-related harms, and the effectiveness of harm reduction interventions.
2. To raise awareness of human rights issues related to psychoactive drug use and harm reduction, and to promote ways to reduce the stigmatisation of people who use drugs and protect them from human rights abuses and discrimination.
3. To involve a broad range of participants from all global sectors, including politicians and government officials, front-line workers, HIV/AIDS and drug user advocates, people working in criminal justice, human rights advocates, law enforcement personnel, researchers and scientists.
4. To enhance advocacy in the region for harm reduction and public health approaches to reducing drug-related harms.
5. To enable the transfer of harm reduction knowledge and the sharing of best practices – including future challenges and directions.
6. To increase the capacity of participants to introduce, implement and improve harm reduction interventions in their home regions and countries.
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