Mauritius: Support. Don't Punish Conference report 2024

As part of the Support Don’t Punish campaign, Collectif Urgence Toxida (CUT), in partnership with ViiV Healthcare, the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) and Harm Reduction International (HRI), held a conference on harm reduction and the decriminalisation of drugs at Les Suites by United Docks in Port-Louis, Mauritius, on the 26th of June 2024.The event convened leading representatives of Key Populations (KP), local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), namely Prévention, Information, Lutte contre le SIDA (PILS), Aide, Infos, Liberté, Espoir, Solidarité (AILES), Parapli Rouz and the regional organisation Dis-Moi. The conference was also marked by the remote (online) intervention of the IDPC and HRI respectively.

This conference provided an analysis of harm reduction strategies and the urgent need for policy reform in Mauritius. Central to this discussion is the "Support Don't Punish" campaign, which advocates for shifting from punitive drug policies to approaches centered on health, human rights, and evidence-based practices. The speakers outline various harm reduction strategies crucial for Mauritius, including safe-injecting rooms, peer distributed naloxone, drug-checking and community-based healthcare services. The role of international organizations was important in bringing global expertise and evidence to the forefront, offering guidance on implementing these programs effectively in the Mauritian context. Harm Reduction International and the International Drug Policy Consortium have collaborated closely with local stakeholders to present data-driven approaches that have shown success in other regions, making a compelling case for their adoption in Mauritius.

Furthermore, the conference delved into the "Golden Standard of Decrim," a framework that outlines best practices for decriminalizing drug use. It provides a comprehensive set of recommendations and allows a reflection for the Mauritian legal and social environment. The focus is on creating a decriminalization system that not only removes criminal penalties for drug possession but also integrates robust support systems to address substance use disorders, reduce stigma, and improve public health outcomes.

The recommendations include the establishment of legal reforms that align with international human rights standards, the expansion of harm reduction services, and the importance of public education campaigns to shift societal perceptions around drug use. Policymakers, health care providers and political parties were urged to adopt these evidence-based approaches, for Mauritius to move towards a more humane and effective drug policy that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens.