International drug users' remembrance day 2021

Next Wednesday, July 21st is International Drug Users' Remembrance Day, where we take time to remember the people whose lives were unjustly cut short due to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of people who use drugs. To honor their memory on this day, INPUD is partnering with UNAIDS and GNP+ for both a social media campaign and webinar to be held on July 21st.

Attached please find a flyer for our webinar, 'No More Loss', in English, Russian, Spanish and French. This event will feature a fantastic panel comprised of drug user activists and representatives from UNAIDS, WHO and UNODC. Speakers will discuss the interventions necessary to eliminate stigma and discrimination faced by people who use drugs, and how this work is being conducted through the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate All Forms of HIV+ Related Stigma and Discrimination.

The webinar will be held on July 21st at 16:00 CEST (10:00 EST) and will be in English, with live translation available in French, Russian and Spanish. Please register beforehand here.

Additionally, we would like to invite everyone to participate in an online remembrance over social media throughout the day called the #MoreThan Campaign. Throughout the day we will be posting photos and memories of the people and loves ones in our communities whose lives were unjustly cut short due to criminalisation, discrimination and stigmatisation. The campaign will highlight that we are all “More Than” any label that denies our inherent humanity. We are all individuals with multiple identities, interests, passions and dreams.

Speakers

Opening remarks by: Suki Beavers, Director, Gender Equality, Human Rights and Community Engagement Department, UNAIDS

Judy Chang, Executive Director, INPUD

Ernesto Cortés, Secretario, LANPUD

John Kimani, Programmes Coordinator, KeNPUD

Annette Verster, Technical Officer, World Health Organization

Fariba Soltani, Chief of HIV/AIDS Section & Global Coordinator for HIV/AIDS, UNODC

Chair/Closing remarks: Louise Beale Vincent, Executive Director, Urban Survivors Union