EHRN calls on the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women about human rights violations in Eurasia

On 31 October 2012, the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN) submitted a collective complaint on behalf of women who use drugs in Russia, Ukraine and Georgia to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women. The submission focuses on testimonies provided by women themselves from Russia, Ukraine, as well as harm reduction service providers in Ukraine and Georgia.

The testimonies confirm that women who use drugs experience systematic and widespread violence, harassment, and sexual abuse at the hands of law enforcement officers. They are not only denied their right to healthcare, but are often forced into drug treatment centers where they are subject to physical and psychological abuse.

EHRN calls on the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that international human rights norms are applied at the national level and those national policies and practices are in full compliance with international commitments protecting women who use drugs.

EHRN calls on the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that international human rights norms are applied at the national level and those national policies and practices are in full compliance with international commitments protecting women who use drugs.

This can be achieved through the following steps:

• In order to prevent acts of violence and ill-treatment against women who use drugs, call on member states to provide wide access to evidence-based health services for women who use drugs, including opioid substitution therapy, as well as to other health care and harm reduction programs, rather than relying on punitive methods towards women who use drugs.
• In order to punish acts of violence, to set up commissions, in cooperation with national human rights institutions, investigate acts of violence against women who use drugs committed by law enforcement, as well as acts of torture and abuse committed in health care settings.
• In order to encourage women who use drugs to report acts of violence, make sure that there are safe mechanisms for them to do so without fear of repercussions, humiliation, or breach of confidentiality.

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