Next generation challenges: An overview of harm reduction 2010, IHRA's 21st conference

Abstract

IHRA’s 21st international conference was held in harm reducion’s ‘spiritual home’ Liverpool, England, from the 25 to 29th of pril 2010. The first International Conference on the Reduction of rug RelatedHarmwas held in Liverpool in 1990, during a pioneerng and formative era of harm reduction (Ashton& Seymour, 2010). hilst the Icelandic volcano threatened to overshadow events, he conference was attended by over 1100 delegates, from over 0 countries, no small achievement considering the significant mpactof internationalflight cancellations. Thefive-dayconference ncluded keynote speakers, global plenary sessions, major and conurrent sessions, poster presentations, as well as the 7th Drugs and arm Reduction Film Festival, which aired 33 films. This year the estival included a community stream, which showed a selection f films in Liverpool city centre, organised in collaboration with he Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT). In addiion, following a successful trial organised by the Global Fund to ght AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in Bangkok 2009, a ialogue Space was added to the programme, which provided an rena for discussionof a rangeof issues and ‘hot topics’. TheGFATM, unique global public and private partnership, between governents, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, edicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to preent and treat HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and malaria, again lent their oices to promoting harm reduction at this year’s conference. As is tradition, the IHRA Conference was the platform for the aunch of new projects and networks, with harm reduction being he common thread. IHRA’s 21st conference facilitated the official eginnings of the European Harm Reduction Network (EuroHRN) nd the International Harm Reduction Academy, a partnership etween IHRA and Liverpool John Moores University, designed to ive participants an internationally recognised and accredited cerificate to demonstrate Continuing Professional Development, in