The theme of the 2011 Conference is "Building capacity, redressing neglect". The building of skills and capacity of civil society organizations in harm reduction implementation and advocacy will feature strongly in this year's conference programme, and will include a dedicated stream of workshop and skills building sessions, designed specifically for participants from the Middle East and North Africa region.

Gaps in the response are not solely an issue in countries where harm reduction is new or emerging. Even in those in which harm reduction is well established, the development of specific policies and programs to meet the needs of women and other vulnerable populations has often been neglected. This year's conference will therefore also contain a strong focus on women, drug use, and harm reduction, and provide a forum to highlight the needs of women who use drugs and other marginalized populations within the overall harm reduction response.

For more information:

Email: info@conferenceconsortium.org

Phone (Warsaw): +48 22 845 0969 or + 44 203 286 1741

Fax (Warsaw): +48 22 845 0969 (Warsaw Office)

Phone (London): + 44 203 286 1741 or +44 (0) 20 3086 8298

Fax (London): +44 20 8338 0365

Web site: www.ihra.net

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, HIV/AIDS (PlusNews), Prevention - PlusNews,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Source: http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=92010

Reprinted with permission from IRIN NEWS