Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society Building partnerships between civil society and law enforcement for the prevention of police violence against women who use drugs XXIII UN Crime Congress, Doha, Qatar 13 April, 2015

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society No global estimates on how many women use drugs worldwide – hence no data from Eurasia region However some estimates exist in some countries Estonia 9% Georgia 10% Kyrgyzstan 10% Russian Federation 30% Ukraine 26%

Common problems across the region: Violence - health institutions Violence - legal systems Violence - at home Violence - streets Violence - police Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society

Interaction points between police and women who use drugs Drug use – criminal act Sex work – criminal act Petty drug crimes - Health aspects (living with HIV, AIDS, TB) Personal rights versus public safety?! Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society Falsification of criminal cases Blackmailing Threat and intimidation Illegal questioning Extortion of money Coercion into cooperation Ill-treatment Unjustified arrest Unlawful searches Physical and sexual violence

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society Police systems in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are: Politicised Militarised Cenrtalised Lacking sensitivity

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society How to work towards halting violence Working with Police: Internal mechanisms Using external mechanisms of pressure

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society Working with Police: propose actions -Systemic approach (Moldova) -Seeking responsible body in law enforcement/establishing contacts (Kazakhstan) -Undertaking individual cases (Ukraine)

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society Internal mechanisms (opportunities for civil society): Street level drug policing Special division for civilian complaints Hot lines General inspection, monitoring and evaluation Trainings

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society External mechanisms Civil society oversight over police National Human Rights Instituions Drug policy reforms / sex work decriminalisation Community involvement

Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society None of these are panacea You are aware of better scheme? You are implementing something different? You have an idea of something different from spoken above? PLEASE talk to me.

Thank you! Improving health and protecting human rights Improving health and protecting human rights for individuals, communities, and society