UNAIDS [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/

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19 April 201
UNAIDS urges countries to move towards a public health and human rights approach to people who use drugs
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 19 April 2016—UNAIDS welcomes the United Nations General Assembly’s call for Member States to consider effective public health measures to improve outcomes for people who use drugs and urges countries to implement programmes that reduce the impact of the harms associated with drug use.

The outcome document adopted by Member States at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem, being held in New York, United States of America, calls on countries to consider measures such as appropriate medication-assisted therapy, injecting equipment programmes and antiretroviral therapy to prevent the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis and other bloodborne viruses.

The outcome document also underlines the need for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people who use drugs, including a fair trial and proportionate sentencing for people arrested for or convicted of drugs offences. It encourages countries to consider alternatives to punishment.

“The world has taken a step towards a more rational and compassionate approach to people who inject drugs,” said the UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. “Countries can only reverse their HIV epidemics by implementing policies and programmes that are proved to work and put people first, including people who use drugs.”…