ABOUT THE PROJECT

Date: 26 June 2016

This exciting new project in partnership with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the Andrey Rylkov Foundation, and Harm Reduction International, builds on strategic human rights litigation around access to opioid substitution therapy. The European Court of Human Rights is currently reviewing the merits of three cases against Russia where the applicants argue their rights guaranteed under the Convention have been violated as a result of Russia's blanket prohibition of opioid substitution treatment.

Depending upon the outcome from Strasbourg, this judgment could be a powerful advocacy tool for promoting rights-compliant and evidence-based drug policy in the EECA region. The HRDP will be centralising human rights and evidence-based arguments around access to OST, mobilising existing stakeholders to support regional advocacy, developing a regional advocacy plan within the European and international systems, and preparing pre-judgement advocacy materials and interventions.

Browse the project's website to:

Meet the courageous individuals challenging the Russian Federation's harmful ban of opioid substitution treatment.
Browse the official documents, submissions, and communications related to the three European Court cases.
Read our fact sheets about access to opioid substitution treatment in Europe to learn about the evidence and human rights arguments in support of OST. Be sure to read a brief case summary to become familiar with the European cases.