PRAKSIS (Programs of Development, Social Support and Medical Cooperation) is an independent NGO which main goal is the elimination of social and economic exclusion of vulnerable social groups and the defence of their personal and social rights in Greece.

PRAKSIS (Programas de desarrollo, de asistencia social y de cooperación médica) es una organización no gubernamental independiente cuyos objetivos principales son la eliminación de la exclusión social y económica de los grupos sociales vulnerables y la defensa de sus derechos personales y sociales en Grecia. Los beneficiarios son: los pobres, las personas sin hogar y/o sin seguro médico, los usuarios de drogas, los inmigrantes económicos, los solicitantes de asilo/refugiados, los menores no acompañados, trabajadores sexuales, las víctimas del tráfico de personas, los niños que mendigan en las calles, los romaníes, las personas afectadas por el VIH/SIDA, los pacientes de hepatitis B y C, los hombres que mantienen relaciones homosexuales, los presos, las personas que salen de cárceles, las familias griegas que se enfrentan a las consecuencias de la crisis financiera, cualquiera persona enfrentada a la exclusión social y / o financiera y que es privada de servicios básicos.

PRAKSIS (Programme de développement, d’assistance sociale et de coopération médicale) est une organisation non gouvernementale indépendante dont les buts principaux sont l’élimination de l’exclusion sociale et économique des groupes sociaux vulnérables ainsi que la défense de leurs droits personnels et sociaux en Grèce. Les bénéficiaires de cette aide sont: les pauvres, les sans-logements, les personnes ne bénéficiant pas d’assurance maladie, les usagers de drogues, les immigrants économiques, les demandeurs d’asile/réfugiés, les mineurs non accompagnés, les victimes du trafic humain, les travailleurs du sexe, les enfants mendiant dans les rues, les Romes, les personnes séropositives, les patients atteints de l’hépatite B et C, les hommes ayant des relations homosexuelles, les prisonniers, les personnes sortant de prison, les familles grecques devant faire face aux répercussions de la crise économique, et toute personne étant exclue pour des raisons sociales et/ou financières et qui n’a pas accès aux biens de premières nécessité.

PRAKSIS

Petition of the greek «ngo platform for psychoactive substances» To appointed executive authorities for the accredited inclusion of civil society In the national planning and coordinating commission on addressing drugs

On Friday, April the 13th, member-organizations of the «NGO PLATFORM for psychoactive substances» filed a petition that was followed by a related memorandum to the Minister of Health, Mr. A. Xantho. The appeal stressed the importance for a robust, fair, substantial, accredited and legally established participation of the civil society, including members of the community of people who used drugs, in the process of planning, implementing and evaluating the national drug policy. The foregoing practice is not always deemed obvious or essential. Despite the multitude of relevant European and international recommendations and directives advising and promoting the aforementioned participation, this is not laid down under the national law in force (Article 50 of Act 4139/2013). In addition, [the right for] community inclusion is prescribed by international conventions, the Constitution of Greece in its human rights provisions and the Hellenic Charter of rights for people with substance dependence. The last was drafted under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights.

Given our long-standing experience, the high level of our expertise and our comprehensive engagement in the fields of drug policy and psychoactive substances, we the civil society organisations petition the Minister of Health to recommend to the appointed executive authorities an amendment to the provision of the Article 50 § 1 of the Law 4139/2013. Therein lies our wish to participate in the work-process of national drug policy-making within the national planning and coordinating commission with one (1) regular member of the «NGO Platform for psychoactive substances» and one (1) alternate.

The petition and the memorandum were communicated to: the Minister for Transparency and Human Rights, Mr. Stavros Kontonis; the National Drug Coordinator, Ms. Christina Papoutsopoulou-Diamantopoulou; the Secretary General for Public Health, Mr. Ioannis Mpaskozo; the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Stamatis Vardaros; the General Secretary of Transparency and Human Rights, Ms. Maria Giannakaki; and the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs of the Greek Parliament, Mr. Emmanuel-Nikolaos Manio.

The Greek “NGO PLATFORM FOR PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES” consists of the following organizations: “CENTRE FOR LIFE for the support of people living with HIV/AIDS”, “DIOGENIS Drug Policy Dialogue”, “PeNUPS-Peer Network of Users of Psychoactive Substances”, “POSITIVE VOICE-Association of people living with HIV in Greece”, “PRAKSIS”, “PROMETHEUS- Hellenic Liver Patient Association”, and “STEPS”

The Greek NGO Platform for Psychoactive substances calls on public authorities to ensure civil society engagement in drug policy

Marianella Kloka is one of the leading figures of the Greek harm reduction movement, and is currently the advocacy officer at the Praksis NGO. We interviewed her about how the government and civil society in Greece have responded to the threat of an HIV epidemic among people who use drugs. Read her inspiring thoughts, and watch our video about people, drugs and harm reduction in Greece!

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

“You cannot promote safety through prejudice” - Interview with Marinella Kloka on harm reduction in Greece

All drug users need to have a secure, quiet place for safe use instead of shooting up in the streets and getting chased by police and citizens who often throw their substances and leave them sick. They need sterilised injecting material in order to stop sharing syringes and taking the risk of getting infected. They urgently need doctors to intervene in case of an overdose or any other emergency which would cause an inevitable death in the streets of a city that ambulances rarely hurry up when they hear the call has to do with a 'junkie'.

They need equal health services to any other human being who has the right to get medical care, especially when their veins are clogged, their circulation is in a terrible shape, they have even suffered an amputation or they are in some other pathological condition that needs to be immediately checked. Drug users who, in their majority, are homeless due to the turmoil of the Greek crisis, only ask a room to rest for some minutes and use their substance with care, relieved from any harm.

Drug users need to be treated with respect to their needs because they really experience a harsh life. They also have families like you and people who share the pain and hope for them to stay safe and alive. This is the spirit of Harm Reduction, believe in it because it's worth it, it really reduces the harm these people are exposed to.

Vote for ODYSSEAS to give them the standard of a safer life and also the information on the benefits of substitution.

Whatever the case is, always remember: Support, don't punish! 40 years of punishment was a complete failure.

PRAKSIS

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The Greek NGO Platform for Psychoactive substances calls on public authorities to ensure civil society engagement in drug policy

“You cannot promote safety through prejudice” - Interview with Marinella Kloka on harm reduction in Greece

Greek Minister of Health & Justice: We ask the full re-function of the Greek drug consumption room ODYSSEAS