Read the latest announcements and updates from HRI.
News and Announcements
Harm Reduction International submissions to UN Universal Periodic Review - China and Malaysia
06 November 2018
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process of peer review of the human rights performance of States. The overall human rights situation of each of United Nations's 193 members is assessed every five years, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council. This review includes information received from civil society. These submissions… Read more
Singapore becomes one of world’s top executioners for drug offences
29 October 2018
On Friday 26th October, Singapore executed two men for drug trafficking, bringing the total number of executions this year to nine. Our research indicates that all are for drug-related crimes, making Singapore one of the world’s top executioners for non-violent drug offences, along with Saudi Arabia and China. Compared with the international… Read more
Harm Reduction International Condemns New Bangladesh Law Expanding Use of the Death Penalty for Drugs
29 October 2018
Parliament passes bills that bucks global trend toward abolition of the death penalty LONDON (29 OCTOBER) – Bangladesh’s parliament passed a bill on 27 October that expands use of the death penalty for drug offenses in the country. The Narcotics Control Act 2018, an update to the 1990 Act, now makes the manufacture and distribution of… Read more
Harm Reduction International appoints Naomi Burke-Shyne as executive director
30 July 2018
(LONDON 30 July) – Harm Reduction International (HRI) announced today the appointment of Naomi Burke-Shyne as its new executive director. She will take the position on 1 September 2018, replacing Dr Rick Lines who has served as executive director since 2010. Naomi joined Harm Reduction International in October 2017 as deputy director and has… Read more
Donor funding for harm reduction drops one quarter in a decade, placing global HIV response under threat
23 July 2018
New research finds annual funding for harm reduction in low- and middle-income countries is 13% of the required amount to prevent HIV among people who inject drugs LONDON (23 July 2018) – Funding for harm reduction services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is in crisis, according to a new report from Harm Reduction International… Read more
Harm Reduction International Submission to UN Universal Periodic Review - Viet Nam
05 July 2018
The report was co-submitted with the International Drug Policy Consortium ( IDPC ) and the Asian Network of People who Use Drugs ( ANPUD ). It focuses specifically on the alignment of Viet Nam's drug policy with its human rights obligations. Information is provided on: the death penalty for drug-related offences; the availability of quality,… Read more
Harm Reduction International Submissions to UN Human Rights Committee - Lao PDR
14 June 2018
This report, co-submitted with the World Coalition against the Death Penalty , assesses the compatibility of key drug control policies and practices pursued by Lao PDR with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), in particular: the death penalty for drug offences; and, arbitrary arrest and… Read more
Harm Reduction International Executive Director announces his departure
29 May 2018
After eleven years at Harm Reduction International, eight of them as Executive Director, I will be stepping down at the end of August. This year marks my 25th anniversary working in harm reduction.… Read more
Harm Reduction International makes submissions on human rights and drug control to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
23 May 2018
On May 18th Harm Reduction International submitted information to the OHCHR, feeding into a report that the human rights body will present at the next session of the Human Rights Council, on the implementation of the 2016 UNGASS Outcome Document (entitled "joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem with… Read more
Harm Reduction International calls for changes to Global Fund policy
01 May 2018
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the largest funder of harm reduction globally, but its eligibility policy currently precludes certain Upper Middle Income Countries (UMICs) from applying for funding – with significant implications for people who use drugs and their access to essential services. With changes to the eligibility… Read more