Eurasian Harm Reduction Association - EHRA

Eurasian Harm Reduction Association - EHRA Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) is a non-for-profit public membership-based organization.

It strives for a progressive human rights-based drug policy, sustainable funding advocacy and quality of harm reduction services for people who use drugs.

Last two days our colleagues from Lithuanian addiction center we were hosted expert delegation from Moldova. Representat...
10/06/2026

Last two days our colleagues from Lithuanian addiction center we were hosted expert delegation from Moldova. Representatives from Ministry of health, medical Univercity, narcological services and harm reduction organisation together were learning how addiction services from prevention, harm reduction to treatment and recovery could be integrated into mental health treatment and care.
Thus study visit is key for development of national drug strategy and reforming health care and drug policy in drug policy in Moldova in the EU accession process.
We are graitfull specifically to Альянс громадського здоров'я Alliance for Public Health as lead of the multicountry ISOS project supported by The Global Fund to fight HIV, TB and malaria for making this cooperation possible. Special gratitude to Aušra Širvinskienė Giedrius Likatavicius Emilis Subata Viktorija Semionova, Marija Subataite and Evelina Pridotkienė for your time and effort in organising this important study visit.

30th of May Ганна Довбах /Ganna Dovbakh volunteer at the VDU Ukrainian Centre and EHRA representative took the stage at ...
01/06/2026

30th of May Ганна Довбах /Ganna Dovbakh volunteer at the VDU Ukrainian Centre and EHRA representative took the stage at "Atsparūs" ("Resilient") Civic Festival in in Kaunas, Lithuania, alongside up to 400 community leaders, business representatives, civil society activists, and local institutions from across Lithuania.
The session "From Preparedness to Resilience: Ukrainian Lessons for Lithuania" explored what real community resilience looks like — not in theory, but under fire. Ganna shared how harm reduction and community-based organizations in Ukraine and across the CEECA region:
▸ Continued services without interruption — even during active hostilities;
▸ Evacuated people who official systems could not reach;
▸ Adapted support under impossible conditions — no electricity, no heating, no medications;
▸ Documented war crimes and preserved evidence for future justice.
The core message: resilience is not built in a crisis. It is built before one — through trust, solidarity, and knowing how to reach the most vulnerable. Ganna provided practical steps of the scenario planning to build community and business resilience and avoid panic.
Ukrainian community here in Lithuania already becoming key source of knowledge and experience in building preparedness to day X and beyond. Український центр - Ukrainos centras in Vilnius playing important liaison role between Lithuanian and Ukrainian experts, academia and communities.
We are grateful to the VDU for including Ukraine's voice in this important national conversation. Lithuania is asking the right questions. And the answers - as Ukraine and the whole CEECA region has shown - live in communities.
🤝 In solidarity, Lithuania and Ukraine will win this battle with empire. All we need - we already carry within us: our own strength and resilience.

EHRA participated in the regional meeting “Evidence, Communities and Policy: The Way Forward for the HIV Response and Ha...
26/05/2026

EHRA participated in the regional meeting “Evidence, Communities and Policy: The Way Forward for the HIV Response and Harm Reduction in Armenia and Georgia” held on 19–20 May 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, organised by the International AIDS Society Educational Fund in partnership with Real World Real People and Médecins du Monde.
The meeting brought together community networks, civil society organisations, harm reduction experts and advocates to discuss the future of HIV responses, sustainability of harm reduction programmes, and the growing challenges posed by shrinking civic space across Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA).
EHRA Steering Committee Co-Chair Irma Kirtadze and EHRA members from Georgia and Armenia actively contributed to discussions on ensuring continued access to HIV testing, treatment and opioid agonist therapy (OAT) services for key populations during donor transition processes.
During the meeting, EHRA EDGanna Dovbakh presented regional findings on stigma, discrimination, criminalisation and shrinking civic space affecting people who use drugs and other key populations in EECA.
Key messages from us:
🔹 Criminalisation and stigma continue to undermine HIV prevention and harm reduction efforts across the region
🔹 Shrinking civic space threatens community-led HIV and TB responses
🔹 Decriminalisation is essential for improving access to health services and protecting human rights
🔹 Strong, self-organised communities are key to sustainable and effective HIV responses
The meeting also highlighted important progress in Armenia’s harm reduction response and the strengthening of community self-organisation among people who use drugs — an encouraging example for the wider region.
Our presentation is available here https://risedecriminalize.org/rd-regional-meeting-on-hiv-response-harm-reduction-and-civic-space-in-eeca/
Альянс громадського здоров'я Alliance for Public Health Իրական Աշխարհ, Իրական Մարդիկ ՀԿ / Real World, Real People NGO Irma Kirtadze Nino Tsereteli Ганна Довбах

Day two of the study visit for the delegation from Moldova took us to Ida-Virumaa for a closer look at cross-sector coop...
14/05/2026

Day two of the study visit for the delegation from Moldova took us to Ida-Virumaa for a closer look at cross-sector cooperation in practice.
The day started with a visit to Viru Prison, where participants learned about resocialization efforts, including drug-related support and expectations for continuity of care through the SÜTIK program after release. We also heard from probation services and police representatives about their cooperation with SÜTIK in the region.
After a guided tour of the prison, the delegation visited “Me aitame Sind” services in Kohtla-Järve. There, participants explored harm reduction services on the ground and spoke with frontline staff working as support persons within the SÜTIK program, gaining practical insight into case management and client support.

Uniunea pentru Echitate și Sănătate Ministerul Sănătății al Republicii Moldova Ministerul Afacerilor Interne al Republicii Moldova Ministerul Muncii și Protecţiei Sociale al Republicii Moldova Ministerul Justiției al Republicii Moldova Inspectoratul de Poliție Bălți Inspectoratul de Poliție Cahul Inspectoratul Național de Probațiune - Ministerul Justiției al RM

EHRA is excited to host the study visit under the project Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion to HIV Care for People Who ...
13/05/2026

EHRA is excited to host the study visit under the project Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion to HIV Care for People Who Use Drugs (LEAD to HIV Care). Yesterday marked the first day of the program, bringing together a multidisciplinary delegation from Moldova — including representatives from government institutions, NGO partners, and the national UNODC office.
The day began at the National Institute for Health Development (NIHD) with welcoming remarks from Director Annika Veimer, followed by insightful sessions on Estonia’s drug policy presented by Ministry of Social Affairs, the current drug situation and naloxone program, and the program supporting people who use drugs. We also explored the legal perspective, including cooperation between the Prosecutor’s Office and SÜTIK.
In the afternoon, participants visited LUNEST — a community organization of people who use drugs — and continued with field visits to Convictus harm reduction services, including the modular house and mobile services.
A full day of exchange, practical learning, and cross-sector dialogue — with two more days of the visit still ahead.

Uniunea pentru Echitate și Sănătate Ministerul Sănătății al Republicii Moldova Ministerul Afacerilor Interne al Republicii Moldova Ministerul Muncii și Protecţiei Sociale al Republicii Moldova Ministerul Justiției al Republicii Moldova Inspectoratul de Poliție Cahul Inspectoratul de Poliție Bălți Inspectoratul Național de Probațiune - Ministerul Justiției al RM

Today, 7 May, is International Harm Reduction Day. 💜Harm reduction saves lives. It prevents overdoses, HIV and hepatitis...
07/05/2026

Today, 7 May, is International Harm Reduction Day. 💜

Harm reduction saves lives. It prevents overdoses, HIV and hepatitis C. It keeps people connected to health care, support, dignity and hope.

Europe knows what works: naloxone, opioid agonist treatment, needle and syringe programmes, drug checking, safer consumption spaces, outreach and peer-led services.

And yet, too often, harm reduction remains underfunded, politically uncomfortable and treated as an “extra” rather than a core part of drug policy.

The new EU drug policy framework speaks about health, rights and reducing harms. That matters. But words in a strategy are not enough.

If harm reduction is only mentioned in the text, but not properly funded, protected and implemented, then it becomes a footnote.
And harm reduction cannot be a footnote.

It must be a priority.

Fund it. Protect it. Make it work. ✊

The “Psychedelic Research and Access in Ukraine” event was hosted 6th of May at the European Parliament by MEP Vytenis A...
07/05/2026

The “Psychedelic Research and Access in Ukraine” event was hosted 6th of May at the European Parliament by MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis.
Members of the European Parliament, Ukrainian war veterans, government representatives, members of the Ukrainian Parliament, medical doctors, and international experts came together to discuss evidence-based and safe approaches to treating war-related mental health conditions.
Ukraine has the potential to become a leader in advancing psychedelic-assisted therapy for both veterans and civilians—especially in cases where other treatments have proven ineffective.
With the ongoing impact of war, the need is urgent: up to 18 million people require mental health support, alongside rising substance use among both military personnel and civilians.
We want to believe that the signed resolution will support policy changes in Ukraine to enable the development of the treatment.
Congratulations to our partners from PSYCHEDELIC ACCESS AND RESEARCH EUROPEAN ALLIANCE – PAREA, MEP Action Group on Psychedelics in Healthcare, and the Ukrainian Psychedelic Research Association (UPRA) and Альянс громадського здоров'я Alliance for Public Health and Lena Kucheruk with this important step forward.
YouTube streaming: https://youtube.com/live/Jodq6aE_nV8
Event details are available here: https://parea.eu/events/psychedelic-research-access-in-ukraine

EU Drug Strategy, drug policy reform in candidate countries, the impact of war on mental health and substance use in Ukr...
07/05/2026

EU Drug Strategy, drug policy reform in candidate countries, the impact of war on mental health and substance use in Ukraine, and other key issues were addressed today at the European Parliament.
Pavel Bém, ECECACD Commissioner, National Drug Coordinator of the Czech Republic, and EHRA Advisory Board member, addressed the SANT Committee of the European Parliament on 6 May 2026, outlining priorities for the future of drug policy in Europe.
He stressed the importance of evidence-based and balanced approaches, aligning drug policy with public health objectives and human rights standards.
Key messages:
✅️ Balancing the EU Drug Strategy
Pavel Bém highlighted the need to maintain a balanced EU Drug Strategy, ensuring that prevention, treatment, and harm reduction are addressed alongside security and law enforcement measures. He also stressed the importance of establishing dedicated funding mechanisms to sustain public health services in Europe and candidate countries.
✅️ EU accession and policy alignment
He underlined the EU accession process as an opportunity to support health- and human rights-based drug policy reforms in candidate countries. He called on EU institutions to revise negotiation frameworks to ensure that public health components of drug policy are included in accession requirements.
✅️ War in Ukraine: mental health and substance use challenges
The intervention also addressed the growing impact of war-related trauma on mental health and substance use, highlighting the need for long-term support, stronger healthcare systems, and innovations such as psychedelic-assisted therapy.
📄 During the meeting, Pavel Bém presented the position paper “Accession to the EU: A paradigm change towards health-based drug policy”, analysing how EU enlargement can support evidence-based and human rights-centred drug policies across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and candidate countries.
Thank you, Lena Kucheruk Vytenis Andriukaitis and ECACACD for your leadership and great cooperation!!! Альянс громадського здоров'я Alliance for Public Health

Watch the intervention and discussion: https://youtu.be/7pkii8hPtwU

Key EHRA documents on drug policy and EU accession https://harmreductioneurasia.org/drug-policy/eu-accession

With the new EU drug strategy now adopted, key questions remain about its direction and implementation—especially the ba...
17/04/2026

With the new EU drug strategy now adopted, key questions remain about its direction and implementation—especially the balance between public health, human rights, and security. Drugreporter published interview with Ganna Dovbakh, EHRA ED and Chair of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, about what the strategy means in practice and the role of civil society moving forward.

https://drogriporter.hu/en/strong-military-budget-for-europe-but-not-at-the-cost-of-community-health-and-safety-an-interview-with-ganna-dovbakh/

🌐 Since late 2026, EHRA has been busy at the UN and has authored or co-authored six submissions to UN human rights prote...
15/04/2026

🌐 Since late 2026, EHRA has been busy at the UN and has authored or co-authored six submissions to UN human rights protection mechanisms. These include reports on women’s rights and gender-based violence, shrinking civic space and freedom of association, plus country situations in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Moldova.
👉 See what these submissions are about, why they matter for people who use drugs, and what UN-level processes they feed into in the new article “Drug Policy Through a Human Rights Lens”. Link in the first comment.

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Perkūnkiemio Gatvė 6
Vilnius
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Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00
Thursday 09:00 - 18:00
Friday 09:00 - 18:00

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