Reference Group to the United Nations on HIV and Injecting Drug Use

The Reference Group was established in early 2002 with the work of the Secretariat commencing in August 2002. The overall objective of the group is to advise UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat and relevant UNAIDS co-sponsors, as well as other members of the Interagency Task Team on injecting drug use, on effective approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention and care among injecting drug users.

In 2010 the group has 23 core members and 24 corresponding members: international experts in the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users or HIV/AIDS prevention and care among injecting drug users.

The Secretariat for the Reference Group is based at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), located at the University of New South Wales, Australia.

The work of the Reference Group is guided by a Steering Committee, which comprises two representatives each from UNODC (including Chair), WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat and the Reference Group Secretariat.

The Reference Group collects and analyses global data on HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users and coverage of prevention and care services for people who inject drugs.

The Reference Group releases reports summarising its findings. In addition, the Reference Group also prepares occasional thematic papers addressing different issues related to HIV/AIDS and injecting drug use.

In-person meeting of the Reference Group
3rd – 5th March Vienna, Austria

The Reference Group will be meeting in person in March 2010 in Vienna. The purpose of this meeting will be to develop a consensus document which will identify and draw attention to key issues and priorities in responding to injecting drug use and HIV among people who inject drugs. This is intended to inform policy development of UN agencies in particular UNODC, WHO and UNAIDS.

Reference Group side event at the 53rd session of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs (CND)

The consesus document developed at the in-person meeting of the Reference Group will be presented at a side event at the 53rd session of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs (CND). Further details on this event will be available soon.

Postal Address
NDARC
University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052, Australia

Street Address
Randwick Campus
22 – 32 King Street
Randwick NSW 2031

T +61 (2) 9385 0333
F +61 (2) 9385 0222

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