Bangkok (Thailand), 13 April 2016 - Training for community based treatment and care services for people who use drugs is to take place in the countries of the Mekong MOU on Drug Control, it was announced today. The announcement follows and will adapt a training manual targeting community implementers.
There are approximately half a million people confined in compulsory drug treatment centres across Southeast Asia. Compulsory drug treatment centres have been touted by many as effective in "dealing" with the issue of drug use. Not only has evidence proven this to be untrue, but there have also been cases of multiple human rights violations taking place within these centres.
In 2012 eleven UN agencies issued a Joint Statement on Compulsory Drug Detention and Rehabilitation Centres in which they advocate for member states to "close them [compulsory centres] without delay and to release the individuals detained". Several other regional consultations have taken place to address this issue.
Accordingly, UNODC's training manual, Community-Based Treatment and Care for People Who Use Drugs in Southeast Asia, aims to equip community implementers with the necessary skills to enable the relevant services to reach the people who need them, where they need them - in their communities.
The first training will take place on 10th - 12th May 2016 in Shanghai, with a view to rolling out follow up training across the region. The training is the final step of adapting the current guidance document into a manual for community implementers.
In the Greater Mekong Subregion, a health-centred approach to dealing with drug abuse and dependence is needed. In response, UNODC subsequently developed a Guidance on Community-based Treatment and Care for Drug Use and Dependence.
Responding to calls from civil society, technical regional experts and various government ministries, UNODC produced this training manual in collaboration to strengthen capacity to offer these services. The main target group for the training are individuals working with people who use drugs in government and civil society organisations.
After a long consultative process the training manual has reached the training stage. This first training will involve with participants from all six Mekong MOU governments in order to specifically adapt the manual to the target population, who are community implementers.
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