Participation on technical meeting “Harm Reduction in Prison: Moldova Shows the Way” 21-22 July, 2009, in Moldova in Chisinau.

Event has been dedicated to reporting of Moldova’s project result and experience on implementation of Harm Reduction Principles in prisons and detention’s facilities as well as international recommendations and norms in this regard.

Conference has been organized by UNODC, Soros Foundation – Moldova; Open Society Institute Public Health Program; Department of Penitentiary Institutions, Moldova Ministry of Justice; United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime; Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and conducted in Leogrand Convention Center, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.

Representatives of penitentiary system and nongovernmental organization from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia took participation on this event. Azerbaijan delegation has been represented by penitentiary department and medical department, Ministry of Justice as well as NGO, dealing with prisoners and HIV/AIDS Prevention in prison.

This event was focused on the introduction of harm reduction program in Moldovan prisons and described successes achieved as well as remaining challenges. Prison’s authorities from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, NGO dealing with prison’s issues, researches, international experts took participation on this event and gain knowledge, adopt Moldova’s model for implementation this “best practices’ in their own countries. Project’s sites visits in prisons and observation of achievements has been conducted in accordance with planned schedule.

In countries around the world, rates of HIV and hepatitis C in prisons are much higher than in the general populations. At the same time, risk behaviors, including sexual activity and injecting drug use, occur in prisons, and prison authorities worldwide have had limited success in reducing their prevalence, despite major investments particularly in drug interdiction efforts. There is evidence that HIV and HCV can spread rapidly in prisons, with negative consequences not only for prisoners, but also for prison staff and for the families and larger communities to which prisoners will eventually return.

Demonstrating leadership, displaying pragmatism, and taking a strategic approach, the Department of Penitentiary Institutions of the Moldova Ministry of Justice decided to take HIV and HCV prevention in prisons seriously. Working in a unique partnership with the Department, an NGO has been providing HIV/AIDS education and a wide range of harm reduction services—including distribution of injecting equipment, condoms, and razors, psychological support, and counseling—inside penitentiary facilities. This project started as a pilot in one institution in 1999, but has since been expanded to cover most prisoners in Moldova. In 2005, the Department of Penitentiary Institutions expanded the range of prevention programs and started to introduce opioid substitution treatment (OST) in prisons.
Moldova experience has been positively evaluated by independent international expert. Moldova has shown that harm reduction services and OST can successfully be implemented in prisons, even in a resource-poor country. Best practice highly recommended by WHO and UNODC to be adopted by other country and their prisons system with same economical level.

Participants received in-depth information on the harm reduction services and OST program in prisons; hear about challenges that remain; had a chance to discuss ways in which they can contribute to removing barriers to further scale-up of services; and had extensive networking opportunities.
Annet Verster, HIV/AIDS Department, WHO representative gave presentation namely “From evidence to actions: HIV prevention in prison” and Arzu Guliyeva, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, gave presentation on Prison’s management and Harm Reduction approaches.
Presentations have been widely discussed by participants and agreed that Molodova’s experience can be accepted as very successful and best practice in the region. Panel discussion on “Further scaling up HIV and HCV programs in
prisons and pre-trial detention centers: Opportunities, barriers, ways to overcome barriers, and next steps” has been
followed.
It has been given opportunity to visit project sites; Penitentiary 15, Cricova, and Penitentiary 7, Rusca (institution for women). Observation of implementation of NSP and OST programmes in the immediate project sites and learning of prisoners and prison’ staff opinions have been offered for participants. Participants also had meeting with prison’s management staff and health staff; progress, success, challenging and apprehensions have been discussed.

Azerbaijan country representatives has opportunity to have separate meeting with international consultant Ralf Jürgens, Consultant, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Larisa Pintilei, Coordinator, Innovative Projects in Prisons.
Azerbaijan delegation briefed consultants on progress regarding Implementation of Harm Reduction principles in Azerbaijan prisons.
Group expressed country’s commitment, willingness and readiness to follow Moldova’s experience and provided information regarding GF proposals, round 9; scaling up NSP is considered for implementation in all prisons of Azerbaijan. Participants agreed to continue the close cooperation with Moldova’s colleagues for better adoption of Moldova’ model in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan delegation during meeting with international consultant Ralf Jürgens, Consultant, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Larisa Pintilei, Coordinator, Innovative Projects in Prisons