(Pictured: Frank Hansen, Chair, LEAHN International Police Advisory Group and Jimmy Dorabjee, Chair, Asian Harm Reduction Network)
In a significant move to increase partnerships between police and harm reduction practitioners in the Asia region, the Law Enforcement and HIV Network (LEAHN) and the Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing to collaborate for the benefit of harm reduction services.
The signing of the memorandum took place at the 11th International Congress on AIDS in the Asia Pacific, held in Bangkok in November 2013.
Particular activities agreed upon in the memorandum between LEAHN and AHRN include:
- Joint activities between LEAHN and AHRN from time to time where possible, to forward the common goals of acceptance of harm reduction approaches to HIV prevention, and to partnerships between police and HIV prevention programs
- Joint advocacy activities with a wide range of audiences, including
- Consultation and review by LEAHN of matters and materials concerning AHRN for which advice and counsel from police would be helpful (e.g. advocacy and training materials for police, advice to HIV program managers and civil society advocates about working with police)
- Joint activities/collaboration between LEAHN and AHRN shall begin or initiate through AHRN’s national federation partners. And that the outcome of such joint activities/collaborations shall be endorsed by AHRN’s federation partner members.
Read the entire AHRN-LEAHN Memorandum of Understanding 2013.
The law enforcement sector is often viewed as a hinderance to lawful harm reduction services which is why LEAHN is actively working towards building better relationships with all stakeholders. Whilst police perspectives can be influential in the policy sphere, they are integral to the success or failure of harm reduction approaches through the appropriate application of the law.
LEAHN will continue to forge partnerships with a range of stakeholders to, not only increase police support for harm reduction, but also to increase awareness among harm reduction practitioners that positive alliances with police are possible, and indeed, essential.