Background and Purpose:
In 2007, the Open Society Institute's (OSI) Roma Health Project (RHP) and International Harm Reduction Development Program (IHRD) collaborated to organize a discussion and debate on the issue of drug use in Roma communities. Participants included harm reduction grantees as well as Roma leaders from across Europe. The goal was to debunk many of the myths about Roma and drug use and to explore how best to address a growing issue without increasing rampant discrimination against Roma. This seminar will move a step further to target NGOs and health officials in order to increase knowledge on how to establish harm reduction services appropriate to Roma and other minority communities.
Description:
The seminar program will last approximately 3 days and will be structured primarily as a technical training designed to provide participants with a variety of strategies and program models for incorporating, increasing, and/or improving their harm reduction services for Roma clients. The meeting program will include interactive skills-building sessions, site visits to harm reduction projects working with Roma, presentations and panel discussions by representatives of harm reduction organizations currently working in Roma communities, and time for networking.
Local Host Organization: Initiative for Health Foundation (IHF)
Objectives:
1. Learn about harm reduction and the philosophy and core services that are the foundation of this practical, human rights-based approach to working with people who use drugs;
2. Learn about strategies and program models for incorporating appropriate harm reduction services into current work with Roma communities;
3. Provide a collegial forum for learning and sharing ideas about introducing harm reduction to Roma clients and communities;
4. Meet and network with colleagues who are providing or who are interested in providing harm reduction services in Roma communities;
5. Create organization-specific action plans for incorporating harm reduction or improving current harm reduction services available to Roma clients.
Conference agenda [word version]
Conference evaltuation [download]
Wednesday, September 24 |
| Evening Arrivals and Check-in |
| Welcome Reception/Dinner |
DAY 1: Thursday, September 25 |
9:00 | Registration and Materials Distribution [participant list] |
9:30 | Welcome and Introductions Ms. Eva Foldes, Program Coordinator, OSI Roma Health Project Ms. Elena Yankova, Executive Director, Initiative for Health Foundation |
9:50 | Safe Space Affirmation and Meeting Objectives Ms. Lydia Guterman, Consultant, OSI International Harm Reduction Development Program (IHRD) |
10:15 | Overview of Harm Reduction: Core Philosophies and Service Components Ms. Lydia Guterman, Consultant, OSI IHRD |
11:15 | Break |
11:30 | Movie Screening and Discussion ‘Persistence Pays: Harm Reduction Outreach in Roma Communities in Sofia’ Ms. Anna Lyubenova, Secretary, Initiative for Health Foundation |
12:00 | Group Discussion: Drug Use, Roma, and Your Work Facilitator: Ms. Lydia Guterman, Consultant, OSI IHRD What role does drug use play in the communities in which you work? Do you see potential for harm reduction services? If so, what are your ideas? What new services would be the most impactful? Are there barriers to implementing/expanding these services? What are they? What resources/support/magic do you need to address the barriers? |
13:00 | Lunch |
14:15 | Introducing Safer Injection/Syringe Distribution in Roma Communities Facilitator: Ms. Silvia Miklikova, Harm Reduction Program Coordinator, Open Society Foundation Bratislava Panelist 1: Ms. Veronica Broasca, Project Coordinator, ARAS, Bucharest Panelist 2: Ms. Anna Lyubenova, Secretary, IHF, Sofia Panelist 3: Mr. Kristijan Nushkov, Needle Exchange Coordinator, HOPS, Skopje Panelists will discuss their respective organization’s process for starting syringe distribution and safer injection education in Roma communities. Presentations will focus on detailed discussions of the process from conceptualization to realization and will include major challenges and tips for other NGOs hoping to begin syringe distribution in Roma settlements. |
16:00 | Break |
16:15 | Experiences and Strategies for Work on TB prevention and with Women and Girls in Roma Settlements Ms. Larysa Sukhomlin, Project Coordinator, Donetsk Roma women organization "Miriclya" |
17:00 | Group discussion and Questions Ms. Lydia Guterman, Consultant, OSI IHRD |
19:15 | Depart from hotel for group dinner |
DAY 2: Friday, September 26 |
9:00 | Welcome Back and Daily Agenda Review Ms. Eva Foldes, Project Coordinator, OSI RHP |
9:30 | Introducing HIV/STI Prevention, HIV Testing and Counseling, and Health Education in Roma Settlements Facilitator: Mr. Kristijan Nuskov, Needle Exchange Coordinator, HOPS Panelist 1: Ms. Kornelia Kostova, Social Worker, NGO Thirst for Life, Bulgaria Panelist 2: Ms. Martinova Violeta Yurieva, Outreach Worker, Panacea Foundation, Bulgaria Panelist 3: Ms. Lora Raleva, Better Mental Health Foundation, Bulgaria Panelists will discuss their respective organization’s process for incorporating HIV/STI testing and counseling in Roma communities. Presentations will focus on detailed discussions of the process from conceptualization to realization and will include major challenges and tips for other NGOs hoping to begin such work in Roma settlements. |
11:15 | Break |
11:30 | Introducing Drug Treatment for Roma Clients Facilitator: Mr. Marian Ursan, Romania Country Team, UNODC, Romania Panelist 1: Ms. Veronica Broasca, Coordinator, ARAS (Methadone Center for Roma) Panelist 2: Ms. Elena Yankova, Executive Director, IHF Panelist 3: Ms. Zorica Necovska, Social Worker and Drop-in Center Coordinator in Suto Orizari Roma settlement, HOPS Panelists will discuss their experience setting up substitution therapy and other drug treatment program for Roma clients. They will also discuss their experience, challenges, and models for referring Roma clients to drug treatment. In addition to speaking about methadone centers, speakers are encouraged to speak about treatment and referral to treatment options for Roma clients when methadone is not available. |
13:15 | Lunch |
14:00 | Site Visits Street Outreach IHF Methadone Center |
18:00 | Group Discussion Facilitator: Ms. Lydia Guterman, Consultant, OSI IHRD What resonated with your work during the site visits? What questions/new ideas do you have? |
18:30 | Dinner |
19:45 | Optional Overdose Prevention and Response Training Ms. Lydia Guterman, Consultant, OSI IHRD Optional night outreach visits (maximum 5 people) |
DAY 3: Saturday, September 27 |
8:30 | Welcome Back and Agenda Review |
9:00 | Getting In: Strategies for introducing harm reduction in Roma organizations and making community partners in a way that is respectful and appropriate. Mr. Marian Ursan, UNODC, Romania Ms. Cerasela Banica, National Agency for Roma (ANR), Romania |
10:00 | Break |
10:15 | Harm Reduction, Reproductive Rights, and Women’s Rights: Experiences and Strategies for Work with Women and Girls in Roma Settlements Facilitator and Panelist: Ms. Zola Kondur, Vice President, Chiricli, Kiev, Urkaine Panelist 2: Ms. Monica Dan, Project Coordinator, ARAS Panelist 3: Ms. Silvana Naumova, Coordinator of Sex Worker Drop In, HOPS Group discussion to follow panelist presentations |
12:30 | Lunch |
13:30 | Tuberculosis, Drug Use, and Roma: The Current Situation, Prevention and Treatment Models, and Next Steps Ms. Zola Kondur, Vice President, Chiricli, Kiev, Urkaine Questions and discussion to follow presentation |
15:00 | Break |
15:15 | Strategies for Local/Regional/National Advocacy and Partnership Building: Advancing the rights and health concerns of Roma, especially Roma affected by drug use. Mr. Baican Eugen, Professor, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
16:15 | Planning Exercise Facilitator: Ms. Lydia Guterman, Consultant, OSI IHRD |
17:45 | Formal meeting closing, Evaluations, Discussion of next steps Ms. Eva Foldes, Project Coordinator, OSI RHP |
18:30 | Dinner |
20:00 | Site Seeing in Sofia Bus Tour |
Sunday, September 28 |
8:45 | Optional Site Visit to IHF Methadone Center (clients present) |
| Departures |
