{"id":20076,"date":"2021-12-09T09:10:02","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T14:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/?p=20076"},"modified":"2024-07-23T09:34:10","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T13:34:10","slug":"media-release-leading-human-rights-and-public-health-organizations-release-national-drug-decriminalization-platform-for-canada","status":"publish","type":"news22","link":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/media-release-leading-human-rights-and-public-health-organizations-release-national-drug-decriminalization-platform-for-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"MEDIA RELEASE: LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE NATIONAL DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PLATFORM FOR CANADA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h1 align=\"center\"><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Leading human rights and public health organizations release national drug decriminalization platform for Canada<\/span><\/b><\/h1>\n<p align=\"center\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 align=\"center\"><i>The bill that the federal government introduced this week\u00a0to repeal mandatory minimum sentences and offer alternatives to prosecution for simple drug possession\u00a0is a step in the right direction, but doesn&#8217;t go far enough.<\/i><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\">For immediate release<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Thursday, December 9, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Toronto, ON\u2014In the wake of almost 23,000 drug poisoning deaths since 2016, twenty-one civil society organizations across the country, including groups of people who use drugs, families affected by drug use, drug policy and human rights organizations, frontline service providers, and researchers, have<b> collaborated to release Canada\u2019s first civil society-led policy framework for drug decriminalization in Canada. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"..\/decriminalization-done-right-a-rights-based-path-for-drug-policy\/?lang=en\"><i>Decriminalization Done Right: A Rights-Based Path for Drug Policy<\/i><\/a><\/span><i> <\/i><span lang=\"EN-US\">seeks to end the harmful and fatal criminalization of people who use drugs\u2014which has fueled unprecedented overdose deaths\u2014and protect the health and human rights of all people in Canada.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cThe Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs welcomes this timely national call to action on drug decriminalization. This rights-based path for drug policy reflects the input of many people who use drugs and presents a decriminalization model that serves as an important starting point for policymakers to decriminalize and regulate presently illegal drugs,\u201d said Natasha Touesnard, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs. \u201cOnly with comprehensive drug decriminalization, allowing the provision of an effective and accessible safe supply of presently illegal drugs, will the devastating ongoing overdose epidemic stop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">This comprehensive platform, endorsed by more than 100 organizations calls for the following:<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u2014 <\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Full decriminalization<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\"> <b>of all drug possession for personal use<\/b>\u2014as well as sharing or selling of drugs for subsistence, to support personal drug use costs, or to provide a safe supply\u2014by doing the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">o\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Repeal section 4 of the <i>Controlled Drugs and Substances Act<\/i> (CDSA) and section 8 of the <i>Cannabis Act<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">o\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Amend section 5 of the CDSA, which criminalizes trafficking-related offences<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">o\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Remove all sanctions and interventions linked to simple drug possession or necessity trafficking<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">o\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Automatically expunge past convictions for simple drug possession and past convictions for breaches of police undertakings, bail, probation, or parole conditions associated with charges for these acts<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">o\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Set strict rules around when police can stop, search, and investigate a person for drug possession<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">o\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Remove police and law enforcement as \u201cgatekeepers\u201d between people who use drugs and health and social services, and replace them with organizations led by people who use(d) drugs or trained frontline workers<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u2014 <\/span><\/b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Redistribution of resources<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\"> <b>from enforcement and policing to non-coercive, voluntary policies, programs, and services<\/b> that protect and promote people\u2019s health and human rights, including health, education, housing, and social services that support people who use drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe war on drugs has been a colossal failure. Under a regime of criminalization, people who use drugs are vilified, subject to routine human rights abuses, and denied access to life-saving healthcare, leading to preventable infection and death,\u201d said Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Co-Executive Director of the HIV Legal Network. \u201cTo undo those harms, decriminalization must be done right. Reflecting community voices, including those most directly affected by drug prohibition, this platform presents a vision for governments to remove the stifling threat of criminalization from the lives of people who use drugs.\u201d<span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">More than a century of drug prohibition aimed at deterring drug use has failed, and there is no greater evidence of this failure than the thousands of deaths due to drug poisonings across Canada and an overdose crisis that continues unabated. <\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Prohibition is rooted in, and has reinforced, racism, sexism, and colonialism and has disproportionately affected Black and Indigenous people who are at much higher risk of arrest and severe punishment for drug offences.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cCops have been enforcing the drug war for over a century. Carding, harassing, arresting, beating and incarcerating drug users\u2014especially if we\u2019re Black or Indigenous. It\u2019s high time cops stand down and get out of our lives. They have caused so much harm,\u201d said Garth Mullins, member of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. \u201cNo more cops, courts and jails for drug users. No more para-military police occupation of marginalized communities. That\u2019s what real decriminalization means.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">The harms of criminalization follow people for the rest of their lives: <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">criminal records limit employment and housing opportunities, affect child custody, and restrict travel, among other repercussions. Additionally, enforcing drug offences consumes billions of dollars annually.<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> \u201cWe continue to resource policing and punishment while defunding services in our communities that actually address the roots of harm and violence. Our prisons are full of people who need help, not a record,\u201d said educator and activist El Jones. \u201cThe stigma of drug use ruins lives. It is long past time to stop funding a war on drugs, and to invest in real public safety: housing, mental health, childcare, and living in a society free of oppression for all people, including those who use drugs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u2014 30 \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Media Contacts:<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">(For Yukon, BC, Alberta)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (For Ontario &amp; Central Canada) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (For Quebec &amp; Maritimes)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Peter Kim\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Janet Butler-McPhee\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Vanessa Nonat<\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Drug Policy Coalition<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">HIV Legal Network<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 AIDQ<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"mailto:Peter_k@sfu.ca\">Peter_k@sfu.ca<\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"mailto:jbutler@hivlegalnetwork.ca\">jbutler@hivlegalnetwork.ca<\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"mailto:communication@aidq.org\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">communication@aidq.org<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">604-787-4043\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 647-295-0861\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>514-791-6281<\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Additional Quotes<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe sharing of different experiences and expertise across this country has resulted in a common vision of what drug policy should be in Canada. By opting for this civil society platform, the federal government has the power to reduce the harms associated with the criminalization of people who use drugs. We all have the right to respect, safety, access to healthcare and social services\u2014and to a better life, free from judgment and discrimination.\u201d [Sandhia Vadlamudy; Executive Director, Association des intervenants en d\u00e9pendance du Qu\u00e9bec (AIDQ)]\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cThe war on drugs has not only fed policing and prisons in this country, it has had devastating effects on our families. Black and Indigenous mothers in particular have seen their children taken into the child welfare system, causing generational trauma. Schools, hospitals, and even our homes have become sites of violent policing which has done nothing to address trauma, to heal, or to help people who want treatment for addictions. (El Jones; Educator, Journalist, Activist)<i><\/i><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<i>Decriminalization Done Right<\/i> proposes a policy shift that is long overdue and is a first step to change a historically cruel and misguided application of the criminal law that has devastated the lives of countless Canadians.\u00a0If adopted by Canada, it would be an important step towards a compassionate, human rights-based approach based on evidence that builds stronger communities for everyone.&#8221;<i> <\/i>(Donald MacPherson; Executive Director, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition)<i><\/i><\/p>\n<p>\u201cPunishing people who use drugs is unfounded drug policy and creates stigma that is much more detrimental than drugs themselves.\u201d (Jean-Sebastien Fallu; Associate Professor, School of Pyschoeducation, University of Montreal)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLed by respected and internationally recognized national organizations, this platform on drug decriminalization is now the centerpiece of actions that our governments must take. The principles it defends and the values it advocates represent civil society\u2019s contributions to essential reforms that are faithful to human rights and social inclusion.\u201d [<span lang=\"FR-CA\">Louis Letellier de St-Just; la<\/span>wyer (health law), Board Chair and Co-Founder CACTUS Montr\u00e9al, and AIDQ Board Member]\n<p>\u201cPunitive drug policies rooted in racism and colonialism have failed and caused catastrophic harm. Youth are particularly stigmatized and targeted because they are young. As decriminalization now seems closer to reality than ever before, it\u2019s crucial that we ensure voices of young people who use drugs are central to these discussions.\u201d (Kira London-Nadeau; Chair, Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNeither sick nor guilty\u2014people who use drugs are not criminals, and the legislation must reflect this reality.\u201d (Chantal Montmorency; General Coordinator, <span lang=\"EN-US\">Association qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise pour la promotion de la sant\u00e9 des personnes utilisatrices de drogues<\/span>)<span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Contributors to <i>Decriminalization Done Right: A Rights-Based Path to Drug Policy<\/i><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">1.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Association des intervenants en d\u00e9pendance du Qu\u00e9bec (AIDQ)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Association qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise pour la promotion de la sant\u00e9 des personnes utilisatrices de drogues (AQPSUD)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">BC Centre on Substance Use<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">British Columbia Civil Liberties Association<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">CACTUS Montreal<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Drug Policy Coalition<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">10.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Cannabis Amnesty<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">12.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Community-Based Research Centre<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">13.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Drug User Liberation Front<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">14.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Harm Reduction Nurses Association<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">15.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">HIV Legal Network<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">16.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">MAPS Canada<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">17.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Moms Stop the Harm<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">18.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Pivot Legal Society<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">19.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">South Riverdale Community Health Centre<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">20.\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Thunderbird Partnership Foundation<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">21.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\">Toronto Overdose Prevention Society<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Organizational endorsers:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Action Hepatitis Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">AIDS Committee of Durham Region (ACDR)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador (ACNL)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Ally Centre of Cape Breton <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">AlterH\u00e9ros<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">ARCH Disability Law Centre <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Association qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise des centres d&#8217;intervention en d\u00e9pendance (AQCID)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Avenue B Harm Reduction Inc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">AVI Health and Community Services<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">BC Humanist Association<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Black Legal Action Centre<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Black Lives Matter Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Blood Ties Four Directions Centre<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Breakaway Community Services<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">British Columbia Association of People on Opiate Maintenance (BCAPOM)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Butterfly (Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Association of Nurses in HIV\/AIDS Care (CANAC)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Public Health Association<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (Vancouver Chapter)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Cape Breton Association of People Empowering Drug Users<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">CATIE<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">CAYR Community Connections<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Centre associatif polyvalent d&#8217;aide h\u00e9patite C (CAPAHC)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Coalition des organismes communautaires qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-SIDA)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Coalition of Peers Dismantling the Drug War <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Community Legal Assistance Sarnia<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Direction 180<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Dopamine<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Peter AIDS Foundation (Dr. Peter Centre) <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Drug User Advocacy League (DUAL)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">EACH+EVERY: Businesses for Harm Reduction<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00c9cole de travail social, Universit\u00e9 du Qu\u00e9bec \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al (UQ\u00c0M)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00c9lixir ou l&#8217;Assu\u00e9tude d&#8217;\u00c8ve<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">ENSEMBLE Services Greater-Grand Moncton<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Grassroots NB<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Grenfell Ministries<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Groupe de recherche et d\u2019intervention psychosociale (GRIP)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Hamilton Community Legal Clinic <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team (HAMSMaRT)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">HIV &amp; AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">HIV\/AIDS Regional Services (HARS)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Hustle Heal Motivate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Income Security Advocacy Centre <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">L\u2019Oasis, unit\u00e9 mobile d\u2019intervention<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Logis Phare<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Maggie&#8217;s Toronto Sex Workers Action Project <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">M\u00e9ta d&#8217;\u00c2me<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Mission Services of Hamilton Inc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Niagara Area Moms Ending Stigma (NAMES)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Niagara Community Legal Clinic <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Ontario Network of People who Use Drugs (ONPUD)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Ottawa Inner City Health, Inc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">PACE Society (Providing Advocacy, Counselling and Education)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">PAN (Pacific AIDS Network)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">PASAN<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Pavillon L&#8217;Essence Ciel<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Peel Drug Users Network<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">PEERS Alliance <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Peterborough Community Legal Centre<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">PHS Community Services Society <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Point de rep\u00e8res<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Point de Rue<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Positive Living Niagara<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Pozitive Pathways Community Services<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Prisoners&#8217; Legal Services<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Programme de recherche en partenariat (R\u00c9)SO 16-35<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Projet L.U.N.E.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG-McGill) <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">R\u00e9seau SOLIDARIT\u00c9 Itin\u00e9rance du Qu\u00e9bec<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">R\u00c9ZO, sant\u00e9 et mieux-\u00eatre des hommes gais et bisexuels, cis et trans<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Sex Professionals of Canada<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Shepherds of Good Hope <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Table des organismes communautaires montr\u00e9alais de lutte contre le sida (TOMS)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">The 519 <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">The DISPENSARY Community Health Center<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Toronto People With AIDS Foundation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Trans Pride Toronto, Transitioning Together <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">UBC Medicine Political Advocacy Committee<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Walgwan Center<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">West Coast LEAF<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Women and HIV\/AIDS Initiative (WHAI)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"EN-US\">Yukon Status of Women Council<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr align=\"left\" size=\"1\" width=\"33%\" \/>\n<div id=\"ftn1\">\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">[1]<\/span><\/a> <span lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"https:\/\/csuch.ca\/explore-the-data\/\">https:\/\/csuch.ca\/explore-the-data\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leading human rights and public health organizations release national drug decriminalization platform for Canada \u00a0 The bill that the federal government introduced this week\u00a0to repeal mandatory minimum sentences and offer alternatives to prosecution for simple drug possession\u00a0is a step in the right direction, but doesn&#8217;t go far enough. For immediate release Thursday, December 9, 2021 &#8230; <a title=\"MEDIA RELEASE: LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE NATIONAL DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PLATFORM FOR CANADA\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/media-release-leading-human-rights-and-public-health-organizations-release-national-drug-decriminalization-platform-for-canada\/\" aria-label=\"More on MEDIA RELEASE: LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE NATIONAL DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PLATFORM FOR CANADA\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"publication_topics":[147,201],"publication_language":[184],"class_list":["post-20076","news22","type-news22","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","publication_topics-drug-policy","publication_topics-hepatitis-c","publication_language-english"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news22\/20076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news22"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news22"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news22\/20076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24291,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news22\/20076\/revisions\/24291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"publication_topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication_topics?post=20076"},{"taxonomy":"publication_language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication_language?post=20076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}