International Women’s Day online conference: Harm reduction for women who use drugs

Women who use drugs face multiple barriers to accessing harm reduction services including stigma, gender-based violence, criminalisation, the experiences of selling and exchanging sex, sexual and reproduction health, and safe housing. Ultimately, there is a lack of gender specific information, resources and services for women who use drugs.

This online event will highlight some of the key issues facing women who use drugs in our society, and showcase examples from Scotland and internationally of ways to work with women to reduce the harms they experience.

The aim of the event will be to:

1. Give focus to specific needs of women in harm reduction
2. Showcase examples of good policy/practice
3. Create discussion and increase enthusiasm around improving harm reduction policy, practice, and resources to best suit the needs of women in Scotland

This conference will be chaired by Dr Aileen O’Gorman, Programme Leader: Contemporary Drug and Alcohol Studies, University of the West of Scotland

Speakers include:
• Claire Longmuir, Policy and Practice Lead for Harm Reduction, Simon Community Scotland
• Catriona Matheson, Freelance Consultant Researcher and Professor (part-time) in Substance Use, University of Stirling
• Hannah Boyle, Women's Harm Reduction Coordinator, Simon Community Scotland
• Janice Abbott, Chief Executive Officer, Atira Women’s Resource Society, Vancouver, Canada

*Speakers subject to change