50+ jurisdictions in 35 countries have adopted a decriminalisation model for drug use and related activities. However, these models vary greatly, and many have not achieved the desired impact of this policy: i.e., to remove penalties for drug use, possession, and other related activities, protect the human rights of people who use drugs, and facilitate voluntary access to life-saving harm reduction and drug treatment services.

Mainline, IDPC and the Health[e]Foundation have produced the first-ever open access e-course for advocates to better understand how decriminalisation works and how to advocate for this critical change of approach. The e-course is available in English, French, Arabic and Russian. This 1h30-long workshop will provide an interactive thought-provoking teaser of the e-course and encourage participants to engage with the materials online.

General Outline:
o Introduction to the workshop, decriminalisation, and the e-course
o Group exercise reflecting on different decriminalisation models
o Presentation of IDPC’s gold standard of decriminalisation and group exercise to reflect on local realities
o Interactive discussion on the different campaigns and movements calling for the decriminalisation of PWUD and other key populations

To understand what the gold standard of decriminalisation is

To understand how to advocate for decriminalisation in solidarity with other movements promoting a human rights-based approach for groups most marginalised, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, the feminist movement, prison abolitionists, etc.

Participants will have agreed on what the key elements of a human rights-based approach to decriminalisation are

Participants will register for, and engage with, the full e-course and its materials online.

Participants will have mapped out key advocacy partners within and outside the drug policy reform movement