Is this Harm Reduction or Maximization?
By Rajesh Khongbantabam *
Harm reduction is not only about drug use and its' services. It is a policy concept defining realistic goal for dealing problems related with drug use. And, perhaps most importantly, it is about human rights.
In an attempt to have a drug free society, the majority of the civil society organisation and human rights agencies have remained silent over the invasion of privacy on drug users' and families under the so called " War on Drugs" launched by various anti-drug organisations and the law enforcers.
Manipur, a state infamously renowned for drug use, HIV/AIDS, armed conflict, insurgency and volatile law and order host the classic playground of innumerable rights violation.
In their enthusiasm to draw public support, many armed groups have issued diktats to people dealing and/or using drugs. Users' are pursued and shot in their legs while dealers are awarded capital punishment.
These dealers are long time users dealing in small quantity to sustain their dependency. Not to be left behind, many Anti-Drug Users Organisations also sprang up.
Thrashing, tonsuring the heads and humiliation of drug users' in every possible manner has been the usual sentence. While making the users' make a confessional statement under coercion in the local paper along with their photos have become the conventional norms of punishment by anti drug organisations.
People who have used clandestinely lies exposed to public x-rayed under this purview, have now acquired a sort of license to use more boldly.
On the other hand, police and other law enforcers exploit the draconian drug laws and low social status of drug users' to arrest users' unlawfully without any incriminating substances, pin NDPS act unjustifiably, and disregards standard due process.
Extortion from the parents of users' by police and enforcers has become the talk of the town. When negotiation are made between parent and enforcers on the amount to be paid for the release of their wards, several drug users' said that they were given drugs by officials in detention with the purpose of coercing them to accept false charge/silencing their complaints of mistreatment.
Users are caught between the deep sea and the devil. The state AIDS control society claimed to have control the increasing trends of HIV.
What is happening on the ground? Does its official data reflect the ground reality? Various human rights agencies have remained a mute spectator to this gross violation of basic rights of people using drugs enshrined in many declarations.
Dialogues and cooperation between the harm reduction community and the human rights community is badly needed in Manipur, which is subject to conflicting influences from various civil organisation and armed groups.
Protection of human rights should be an integral part of any harm reduction strategy. What could human rights group do to defend the interest of drug users? It is clear why the harm reduction community is interested in cooperating with human rights group. But why would the human rights group be interested in such cooperation?
Drug users as a social group suffer from deprivations and therefore have a legitimate claim to the protective services of the human rights community. Further, the "War on Drugs" also contributes to the erosion of the rights of the majority in addition to the drug users group.
If the human rights community wants to counteract the erosion of these rights, it has to attack the phenomenon at its roots. But will the various rights agencies be willing to be a part of this endeavour?
"If only human rights bodies could be more upright and humane for the cause of people using drugs"
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* Rajesh khongbantabam is a key correspondent of HDN (Health & Development Network, Thailand) and writes about AIDS inflicted and help available for them. He is based at Imphal, Manipur.
This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on 06th July 2009.
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