ID: HR19-319

Presenting author: fabrice Olivet

Presenting author biography:

Fabrice Olivet is a drug reformer and a writer. Since 1996 he is managing ASUD ( Self Support of Drug User), he is a member of the French national commission on narcotics Graduated in history, he is also writing to defend the french black community

RAFASUD : to escape from double bindness in culture and language for harm reduction initiatives in Africa

fabrice Olivet, Louis Letelier de Saint Just, Abdou Ndiaye

Issue
Due to its post-colonial history, many countries part of sub-Saharan Africa recognize French as an official language which continues to be used as the principal language of education, communication and administration. Clearly, to ensure optimal effectiveness, this reality should inform any harm reduction (HR) initiative. Although obvious, English HR initiatives in French-speaking African countries fall far short.
Project
If we hope to foster the effective mobilization and participation of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) organizations and civil society in French-speaking African countries in drug-related policy advocacy, competent French-speaking resources must be deployed.
To proceed in any other fashion would not have the desired impact and would not advance this advocacy, which deserves to be as powerful and concise as that advanced in neighboring English- speaking countries. Given the importance of the communities concerned, it’s a logical and respectful way forward.

RAFASUD (Réseau Afrique francophone autosupport des usagers de drogues), who emerged at the end of a training session sponsored by the Global Fund jointly with the International Network of People Who Use Drugs, represents an opportunity to create a PWUD network at a time when public opinion in Africa is moving from denial to stigma.
Mainly through the organization of workshops, conferences and research in French African countries, RAFASUD is developing a sense of community around PWUD issues in French-speaking Africa, and to highlight the advocacy role of the PWUD community in public health policies and, more specifically, drug-related issues.

Key arguments
The project exists to share knowledge, competencies, and experience between French-speaking African countries with the goal of creating a permanent habit of sharing experience across Africa.
Already, RAFASUD is a partner in the organization in Senegal of a one week course on Drugs and Human Rights and also started workshops initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroun.