Quarterly Report # 7: Penitentiary, Law Enforcement & Drug sectors Government Efficiency in HIV response

The project aims to reduce HIV transmission among most-at-risk populations (MARPs) through increased access to state-of-the-art HIV, AIDS, and drug abuse services. The project focuses on three key objectives: creating an environment supportive of evidence-informed and human-rights based HIV/AIDS and drug dependence treatment programs among MARPs; strengthening the capacity of narcological services to integrate HIV/AIDS and substance abuse services; and expanding HIV, AIDS, and drug dependence treatment services in detention and post-release settings. The project also seeks to build support among Ukrainian law enforcement officials and other key Government stakeholders for HIV/AIDS and drug dependence treatment services targeted at MARPs. During the reporting period of April 1, 2013, to June 30, 2013, the HIV-PLEDGE Project continued its collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, State Drug Control Service, and other stakeholders to promote increased understanding and support from the law enforcement sector towards HIV prevention and care programs for people who inject drugs. The project facilitated and sponsored participation of three representatives of the Ministry of Interior in the International Harm Reduction Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. The conference provided an opportunity for Ukrainian officials to learn about international drug policy, HIV/AIDS challenges related to injecting drug use, and the needs for scaling up comprehensive packages of HIV/AIDS interventions among people who inject drugs. The conference also facilitated support to update training and professional development programs for police on HIV prevention and harm reduction programs by the Ministry of Interior. In addition, the HIV-PLEDGE Project organized a study visit to Glasgow, Scotland, for a group of law enforcement officials from Ukraine. The aim of the visit was to facilitate the development of knowledge and an evidence base for various models of effective intersectoral collaboration between police, healthcare, and social support services in tackling drug-related crime, drug abuse, and related HIV/AIDS challenges. The study visit group consisted of eight officials from Ukraine, including representatives of the State Drug Control Service, Police Staff Association, National Police Academy, and Ministry of Interior. During the visit, participants learned about the experience of the Family Addiction Support Service, Drug Crisis Centre, Scottish Drugs Forum, and Scottish Police Training Centre, and had discussions with representatives and policy coordinators from the Government of Scotland, Police Department, Saughton Prison, and drug addiction prevention programs. Based on the study visit's results, participants developed recommendations for follow-up actions that were submitted to the Deputy Minister of Interior and the Head of State Drug Control Service of Ukraine. The recommendations included developing and implementing drug referral mechanisms aiming at improving access of people who use drugs to HIV/AIDS prevention programs, including harm reduction programs, OST, social support, and counseling. The project also reviewed the current training programs and curricula for police and developed updated guidelines and training modules for police on HIV/AIDS. The draft International Guidelines and Training Modules for Police on HIV/AIDS were presented to officials of the police training institutions and key project partners at a workshop held on June 5, 2013, in Kyiv.