Rise & Decriminalize Movement to protect communities’ rights in EECA region

Five community-led networks launched Rise & Decriminalize Movement to jointly advocate for decriminalization of the inadequately served populations in the EECA region.

Rise & Decriminalize Movement is tailored to commonly advocate for the rights of LGBTQI+, people who use drugs, women living with HIV, and sex workers.

The Movement unites regional networks, supported by the Robert Carr Fund:

• Eurasian Coalition for Health, Rights and Sexual Diversity – ECOM
• Eurasian Harm Reduction Association – EHRA
• Eurasian Network of People Who Use Drugs – ENPUD
• Eurasian Women’s Network on AIDS – EWNA
• Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network – SWAN.

In EECA countries, there are strong tendencies to criminalize behavior or a way of life that the majority does not like, such as sexual preferences, specific appearance, provision of sexual services, substance use, or sex/family life in the presence of a disease (HIV). Sometimes, it can all be about the same person.
In light of previous successful campaigns, where several communities united for common goal, for example, “Chase the Virus not People”,  the premise behind the Rise & Decriminalize Movement is intersectionality – all groups of key populations are interconnected, one person can belong to several vulnerable groups at a time. This provides a unique opportunity to build the decriminalization advocacy for one group on the results of the other group, support each other in campaigns.

“Bad policies and bad laws are bad, simply regardless of where they are. They must be fought”, said the Ambassador Dr. John N. Nkengasong, Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS, PEPFAR, at the event organized by the Rise & Decriminalize Movement at the 25th International AIDS Conference.

The Rise & Decriminalize Movement builds on four pillars encompassing their decriminalization activities:

1. Bodily autonomy and integrity – to be as you are and enjoy the right to recognition of existence (choice, dignity, right to health and the right to live and be free from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment).
2. Access to justice – to enjoy protection from discrimination and interference into private life, protection mechanism from crimes, including hate crimes.
3. Freedom from legal restrictions – to enjoy parental rights (adoption, assisted pregnancy, being a parent in general), sexual and reproductive rights, travelling, professional career; no HIV specific law; HIV, sex work,  drug use and possession for personal use are excluded from Administrative and/or Criminal Codes, regulation of psychoactive substances, legislation/ regulation is based on the science data, there is no mandatory testing for HIV, personal and medical data are protected.
4. Availability of comprehensive care services (medical, psychosocial, legal).

It is planned to develop a common position of the Rise & Decriminalize Movement, in the process of which the networks will define the common background for advocacy relevant for all communities and identify issues that are separate for each community.

The Movement Communique has been already supported by 35 organizations and 12 individuals.

Read more about this initiative at the Movement web-site.