Jul 07, 2005

The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS has been successful in winning the bid to host the 17th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm, to be held April 30 to May 4, 2006 in Vancouver. The title sponsor for this event will be BioLytical from Richmond, a world leader in rapid HIV-1/HIV-2*/2 detection kits. This conference will be a significant event for the city, and will bring a host of international experts on harm reduction to our community. It will also provide us with an excellent opportunity to measure our progress on reducing and preventing drug-related harm, in light of international experience and best practice from around the globe.

The International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) works with local, national and international organizations to assist individuals and communities in the areas of public health advocacy, collaboration and communication, best practice and education, and training and research. The 2006 Conference will take place at both the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Vancouver.

This conference will be of interest to a diverse array of people interested in harm reduction, including: current and former participants in harm reduction programs, doctors, nurses, educators, peer support people, academics, front-line workers, police officers, enforcement agencies, corrections workers, policy makers, lawyers and human rights activists.

The 2006 Conference will also provide an environment for harm reduction program participants, advocates, programs and governments to develop realistic responses and effective harm reduction strategies. It will provide a forum for global perspectives in fostering local innovation, collaboration and cross-cultural understanding, and will create opportunities for an honest exchange of information past and current challenges that will help direct future efforts.

Information on this conference will be posted on the Four Pillars website in the months ahead at www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/fourpillars, and a dedicated conference website will be online in the near future. For more information on the International Harm Reduction Association, check their website at www.ihra.net

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