'Support.Don't Punish' campaign launched
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 16 2024:
Joining the global movement for promotion of drug users' rights and health, "Support.
Don't Punish" campaign was launched today at Hotel Yaiphaba, MG Avenue.
The month-long campaign was launched under a joint initiative of the Association of Drug Users Manipur (ADUM), Kripa Society, Care Foundation, MNP+ and SASO.
Prof MC Arun of Manipur University, JNIMS Psychiatry HoD Prof K Shantibala, AMWJU general secretary Athokpam Jiten and Kripa Society president Hijam Dinesh attended the launch function as presidium members.
Giving the key-note address at the function, ADUM member Ningthoujam Roshan said that "Support.
Don't Punish" campaign is a global movement.
The campaign is basically about promoting the community's health and human rights, rather than undermining them.
This does not mean demanding additional rights or privileges for drug users, Roshan said.
The campaign is being launched in Manipur with a belief that the struggle to tackle drug menace would be more fruitful if all stakeholders work together on harm reduction, demand reduction and supply reduction, he said.
In the course of the month-long campaign, district level and State level workshops would be held at different places.
All stakeholders would take part in the State level workshop and it would adopt several recommendations which would be submitted to the Government, Roshan said.
T-shirts, badges and wall posters were also launched to mark the beginning of the campaign which is scheduled to go on for a month.