New UNAIDS Case Study: Asian Harm Reduction Network

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Title: The Asian Harm Reduction Network: Supporting Responses to HIV and

Injecting Drug Use in Asia

Abstract:

Drug use and HIV/AIDS are complex problems having political, social, economic,

and cultural determinants. Experience shows that no single agency is in a

position to provide effective and comprehensive responses to all these issues;

as a consequence, new forms of organizational structures had to be developed to

initiate and implement comprehensive and large-scale approaches. Over the past

few years, technical resource networks have been found to be successful in

doing that.

The Asian Harm Reduction Network is such a technical resource network.

Supported by UNAIDS and other agencies, it has become an important mechanism

for promoting pragmatic approaches to the prevention of drug use and HIV/AIDS

in Asia. The purpose of this case study is to examine those factors that made

it necessary to establish this network ? and why a network, not a traditional

nongovernmental organization, was necessary. The study provides information on

how the network was conceptualized and on its major activities during its first

four years of operation. An assessment of the impact of its activities is

provided, and future challenges are outlined. In the final sections, the

benefits of harm-reduction networks are discussed in general terms, and the

lessons in creating and maintaining the network are described.

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Series: UNAIDS Case Study

Publisher: UNAIDS, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, Tel: +41 22

791 4765, Fax: +41 22 791 4898, Email: unaids@...

Website:

http://www.unaids.org/publications/documents/care/general/JC477-AHRN-E.pdf