‘RCF’s long-term investment into community-led networks fuels harm reduction advocacy’ — Interview with Jamie Bridge
The Robert Carr Fund (RCF) is excited to share a major advocacy success from one of our grantees, the Harm Reduction Consortium – led by the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC).
In this interview, Jamie Bridge, Deputy Director of IDPC, explains how the coordinated efforts of numerous civil society partners led to the historic inclusion of harm reduction in a United Nations resolution. This achievement, made possible through years of dedicated advocacy and long-term support from RCF, shows the vital role civil society plays in shaping global drug policies. By sharing this story, we want to show how sustained funding can fuel community-led advocacy, driving real change in global health and human rights.
Which problem did the Harm Reduction Consortium and partners want to address?
Jamie Bridge: The main issue we aimed to address was the lack of recognition for harm reduction in the United Nations (UN) drug policy discussions in Vienna, where the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) convenes. Despite harm reduction being acknowledged in other UN spaces, such as the General Assembly in New York and the Human Rights Council in Geneva, it was noticeably absent in Vienna. This discrepancy created a significant barrier. Countries would often justify their inaction on harm reduction by pointing to the lack of support in the CND and related international drug control conventions, which were drafted decades before harm reduction even existed as a concept. We needed to close this gap to enable consistent, supportive international language and policy on harm reduction across all UN bodies.
At the March 2024 CND meeting, a historic resolution was passed that explicitly included harm reduction—a first for this UN body. The United States submitted the resolution, marking a significant shift, as the country had historically opposed harm reduction. This change was largely driven by the opioid overdose crisis in North America. The passage of the resolution was not straightforward, as it broke with the CND’s traditional practice of consensus decision-making. Instead, the resolution went to a vote, with overwhelming support from member states and only two countries—Russia and China—voting against it. This vote set a new precedent, demonstrating that progress could be made despite opposition and lack of traditional consensus approach to decision-making in this UN institution.
This breakthrough is monumental for future advocacy efforts. It not only aligns Vienna with other UN bodies but also opens the door for more ambitious resolutions on many critical issues. For us, harm reduction advocates, this development represents a powerful tool to challenge resistance at the national and regional levels, as governments can no longer claim that the CND does not support harm reduction. The long-term core funding from the Robert Carr Fund was pivotal in enabling the Harm Reduction Consortium to sustain our advocacy efforts over the years, ensuring that relationships, expertise, and readiness were in place for this specific moment in time.
What was your long-term strategy?
Jamie Bridge: Our strategy has always been about persistence and collaboration. Since IDPC received its first grant from the Robert Carr Fund in 2012, engaging at the CND has been our core activity. Over the years, we focused on developing trust and constructive relationships with government delegations through regular meetings, briefings, and constant engagement. Alongside this, we coordinated civil society’s presence at the CND by organizing training sessions to prepare community representatives and NGOs for advocacy in this space. The result has been an exponential rise in the levels of civil society participation at CND (Figure 1).
Additionally, we consistently kept harm reduction and human rights at the center of discussions, advocating for countries that practice harm reduction to openly support it in UN statements.
The sustained financial support from RCF allowed us to maintain this comprehensive strategy year after year. These long-term efforts culminated in March 2024 when, for the first time, a resolution explicitly mentioning harm reduction was approved at the CND. This breakthrough required tenacity, strategic relationship-building, and a collective push from our partners. The RCF’s contributions ensured that we could adapt, respond, and act decisively when the opportunity arose.
Who were the network partners, and how were they engaged in the advocacy?
Jamie Bridge: This success was a collective effort, powered by a broad coalition. Key partners included the Harm Reduction Consortium members and others such as the Transnational Institute and the International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD).
Our advocacy was thoroughly coordinated. For example, every March before the CND session, we hold a full-day civil society strategy meeting funded by the Robert Carr Fund. Representatives from over 70 NGOs worldwide come together to strategize, assign tasks, and ensure everyone is aligned. This includes deciding which governments to approach, preparing side events, and crafting interventions. Without this coordination, the unified civil society presence that has been critical to our success would not have been possible.
Community representatives played a critical role. In the lead-up to the resolution vote, these activists worked tirelessly, navigating the corridors of the UN building, briefing governments, and ensuring they understood the significance of the vote. Their advocacy directly influenced key decisions. The ability to sustain this high level of coordination and engagement over years is directly tied to the long-term financial support from RCF.
How were RCF’s funds used to achieve this success?
Jamie Bridge: The Robert Carr Fund’s support has been instrumental in both direct and indirect ways. The CND work has always been a priority in the Harm Reduction Consortium’s work plans. However, advocacy at this level requires years of groundwork, training, coordination, and trust-building. These are resource-intensive activities that cannot be accomplished with project-based funding alone. Without RCF’s core support, we wouldn’t have had the capacity or relationships to achieve this milestone. The flexibility of core funding has allowed us to adapt our strategies to changing political landscapes, ensuring that we remain effective advocates for harm reduction.
What are the outcomes of this case and its broader impact on human rights and the global harm reduction movement?
Jamie Bridge: The inclusion of harm reduction in a CND resolution represents a landmark victory. For the first time, we now have a unified acknowledgment of harm reduction across all relevant UN structures, from Vienna to Geneva and New York. This alignment eliminates a significant barrier that governments previously used to avoid implementing harm reduction measures.
For communities, the potential impact can be profound. NGOs and activists can now leverage this CND resolution to advocate for harm reduction services at their national level. For instance, in countries without naloxone programs for overdose prevention, this resolution explicitly calls for their implementation. It’s a powerful tool for challenging resistance and pushing for change.
Moreover, this success has shifted the dynamics at the CND. Historically, decisions were made by consensus, which allowed a few opposing countries, like Russia and China, to veto progress. In March 2024, this tradition was broken when the resolution went to a vote. With overwhelming support, harm reduction became part of UN policy.
This shift opens the door for future resolutions on previously untouchable topics, such as the death penalty for drug-related offenses or broader human rights issues. It’s a game-changer. The momentum is on our side, and we’re already strategizing for the next steps.
However, we’re realistic. Progress at the UN level is rarely linear, and we need to see what role the United States may continue to play as a harm reduction ally. UN resolutions also don’t automatically translate into immediate change on the ground. The real challenge lies in translating this victory into better access to harm reduction services and stronger human rights protections worldwide. This requires continued advocacy, capacity-building, and long-term investment—areas where the Robert Carr Fund’s support remains critical.