NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2020 330+ NGOs warn changes in Dutch funding priorities will disrupt drugs policy reform The Netherlands has been a global leader for ensuring the health and human rights of people who use drugs. Recent funding decisions signify a withdrawal from this critical agenda. A very worrying development that has stirred the harm reduction and drug policy field. The Netherlands has contributed significant funding over the past decade for harm reduction and drug policy reform. But the government is now changing their strategy. For their new funding round (2021-2025) they have selected a number of strategic partners to work on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR). None of the partnerships they’ve selected include harm reduction: It simply fell off the Dutch priority list. In response, a letter with an urgent appeal was drafted and sent to Minister Kaag of the department of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. This letter, signed by 330 civil society and community networks from 95 countries across the globe, calls on the Dutch government to recommit to their brave, long-standing political and financial support for harm reduction and drug policy advocacy, as well as to continue to build on their significant investment in this issue. The letter was positively received by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but involvement of the Dutch Parliament might be necessary to change funding decisions. We will continue to fight for harm reduction and Dutch support to organisations across the world. Any ideas to help us are very welcome, feel free to contact Machteld Busz.     Read the letter and the full list of signatories here. Chemsex part 1 e-learning platform - NOW LIVE! Mainline is proud to announce the launch of our groundbreaking e-learning on the topic of chemsex. The e-learning is now available to purchase. The use of drugs during sex is a growing worldwide phenomenon, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Our chemsex e-learning programme ensures that our learners increase their knowledge, attitude and skills in providing non-judgemental and quality harm reduction interventions to MSM engaging in chemsex. Topics covered include how men might enter into the chemsex scene, the added value of chemsex for the men who participate in it and harm reduction interventions for men who inject, smoke, snort or booty bump! Want to find out more? Please visit our website Needle and Syringe Programming in Tanzania: an in-depth investigation into its impact Using clean needles can help prevent abscesses, infectious diseases and damaged veins. However, the impact of the needle and syringe programme (NSP) in Tanzania might be much bigger than that. Read more The needle exchange in Durban, South Africa is back in business! In 2018 the local government of Durban, a city in South Africa, decided to close the local needle and syringe exchange programme. They did this because they believed it would limit unsafe disposals of used needles: a claim that could never be attributed to the local organisations. Read more Dutch Drugs Stories Mainline's sister organisation and social enterprise Poppi: Drugs Museum Amsterdam made a major step last month in its journey to becoming a full-fledged museum. We organised a pop-up photo exposition that was open to visitors between 26 June and 26 July. The name of this unique expo: Dutch Drugs Stories. Did you miss this? Not to worry:  we made a short video of the expo. Also: our Digital Drugs Tour is available throughout the year and can take all those visiting Amsterdam on a tour through the street scenes of the 1980s and ‘90s. And Poppi is already planning its next pop-up expo. If you’d like to stay posted, subscribe to Poppi’s newsletter and follow us on social media.   8 master trainers pass Mainline's ‘Harm reduction trainer: basic skill course' In 2019, Mainline began a second Train the Trainer (ToT) programme. The two-part programme equips members of local organisations with the knowledge and skills needed to plan and deliver professional harm reduction training. A huge congratulations to our 8 trainee master trainers who successfully passed the first part of Train the Trainer – the Basic Training Skills course. The master trainers successfully demonstrated their competence of planning trainings, setting training aims and objectives, and dealing with resistance amongst other important training-related skills. All 8 master trainers are now engaged onto the second part of the ToT – the Advanced Training Skills course. We wish them good luck on their further training adventures! Overdose Awareness Day 2020 On 31 August we remembered our friends who died of an overdose. All their deaths could have been prevented. Oppressive policies have led to too many lost lives. We will always remember you and fight in your spirit to prevent more loss and grief. #harmreduction #EndOverdose The power of flexible funding The COVID pandemic has had a major impact on people who use drugs across the world. Services have had to downsize or close to accommodate new safety measures. In times like these, Mainline is grateful for the flexibility that Bridging the Gaps offers to partners in this programme. A powerful example is the work of MEWA in Mombasa, Kenya. Read more Webinar: chemsex in Asia Mainline co-hosted a webinar about chemsex at the Asia Chemsex Platform. Around 100 participants discussed available evidence and the need for targeted harm reduction programmes.  We would like to thank all co-hosts, presenters, facilitators and participants for making the webinar a success! Did you miss this? No worries, you can find the recording of the full webinar here. You receive this newsletter because you have opted in or you have a relationship with us. Forward this newsletter If you no longer wish to receive our emails, you can unsubscribe here. © Mainline. All rights reserved.