Harm reduction

© Agnès Varraine

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ACCESS TO HEALTH IS A UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHT.

However, moral disapproval and criminal condemnation of sexual orientation, gender identity or certain practices, such as drug use and sex work, reduce the exercise of this right for the people concerned.

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HR

STIGMA AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION SIMPLY INCREASE RISK.

They contribute to the transmission of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other health problems, as well as to violence, social exclusion and insecurity.

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HARM REDUCTION AT MDM

REACHING OUT TO AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE

TO PROMOTE SEX WORKERS' ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES

CAPACITY BUILDING

A COMMUNITY APPROACH

COMPREHENSIVE AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE

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HARM REDUCTION: A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE

© Olivier Papegnies

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Some definitions

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WHAT IS A DRUG?

WHAT IS A DRUG?

Drugs are psychoactive substances capable of altering an individual's psychological and/or physiological functions, i.e. mood, thought, behaviour or emotion; and of creating psychological or physical dependence.

By "drugs" we mean unauthorised (illicit, misappropriated, unregulated) psychoactive products. The illegality of drug use creates specific health, legal and social risks for users that need to be taken into account in a comprehensive health approach. 

Some key figures on drugs:
- The enforcement of drug laws in France represents an exorbitant cost of €2.4 billion (0.1% of GDP)
- France is the EU country with the highest levels of drug consumption. It is Europe’s leading consumer of cannabis and is third for its consumption of cocaine.
- Globally, the budget spent on drug control is $100 billion. Reallocating only 10% of this amount would help end the HIV and hepatitis C epidemics among people who use drugs.

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WHAT IS A SEX WORKER?

WHAT IS A SEX WORKER?

Médecins du Monde-France chooses to use the terms "sex work" and "sex worker" to designate the activity and the people who carry it out, regardless of the conditions in which they are carried out. This terminology refers to people whose work, either chosen or forced, is defined through economic-sexual exchanges where the economic transaction may be explicit (sexual services provided in exchange for money) or implicit (sexual services provided in exchange for protection, accommodation, psychoactive products, assistance with migration, etc.).

Sex work covers an extremely wide range of situations. While some people are willing and able to work in the profession, others are exploited or even forced. In accordance with its values, Médecins du Monde strongly denounces all forms of coercion and violence against human beings. We believe that, as with any marginalised and repressed population, it is a priority to enable sex workers, whether they are minors or adults, to exercise their fundamental rights, as provided for in international texts relating to health, rights and the protection of persons.

Médecins du Monde is committed to ensuring that sex workers have access to health services that take into account their multiple health needs. We denounce laws and policies that exacerbate violence and health problems, including the criminalisation of sex work and migration policies that condemn people to working clandestinely. 

Refer to Médecins du Monde's position paper on the health and rights of sex workers.

Some key figures on sex work:
- Decriminalising sex work could reduce new HIV infections among sex workers by 46% over 10 years (WHO).
- Eliminating sexual violence against sex workers could reduce new HIV infections by 20% (WHO).
- The criminalisation of consensual sex work offers impunity to abusers of sex workers, who are often too afraid of being punished for reporting an offence to the police, and which in turn affects their safety (Amnesty International).

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WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION?

WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION?

Médecins du Monde has been working for nearly 40 years with people who use drugs, sex workers and sexual and gender minorities using a pragmatic approach. Rather than (re)denying their practices and identities, we work with them to build solutions adapted to their needs in order to improve their health. This includes prevention, treatment and care, psychosocial support and socio-economic empowerment for those affected. This approach is called “harm reduction” (HR).

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IN PRACTICAL TERMS, WHY CONDUCT HARM REDUCTION ACTIVITIES?

IN PRACTICAL TERMS, WHY CONDUCT HARM REDUCTION ACTIVITIES?

Considering these people as delinquents, patients or victims only leads to paralysing any innovative thinking that respects their existence, their humanity and their right to be full citizens.

Despite strong moral opposition in some contexts, harm reduction, which was initially illegal, has emerged as an effective and cost-effective public health response. 

Harm reduction adopts a holistic view, in terms of health, social and economic impacts, both on an individual level and in society as a whole. 

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