The Vienna Declaration (2010) was a call for evidence-based drug policies prompted by the failure of traditional drug policies in the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Vienna Declaration was published in July 2010 prior to the XVIII International AIDS Conference, 2010 (AIDS 2010), [1] which took place on 18–23 July 2010. [2] The conference's focus was on human rights and its quintessential role in HIV/AIDS pandemic response. [3] The Vienna Declaration was the second formal declaration in an International AIDS Conference, the first was the Durban Declaration (2000). [1] The declaration was a communal effort by: the International AIDS Society, the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP), and the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. [4] The Lancet published a copy of the Vienna Declaration text along with a series of articles and comments on HIV in people who use drugs within the same period of the declaration's release. [5] It initially had its own website (www.viennadelcaration.com) which contained: statements of support, an overview of the declaration. The website has since been taken down. By the end of the conference, the Vienna Declaration had 12,725 signatures. [1] [6]
In 2010, human rights and universal access in HIV/AIDS responses were the central focus of HIV/AIDS organizations, governments, stakeholders, etc. [3] The 1988 IV International AIDS Conference marked a shift — biomedical to social, political, economic, and human rights — in the perspective from which HIV/AIDS was viewed. [1] Target 6.B of the Millennium Development Goals set 2010 as the target year for universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and services. [7] The Declaration of Commitment (2001) set 2010 as a target year to meet specified population goals. [8] The Political Declaration of Commitment (2006) emphasized the importance of government participation, in addition to all other organizations, agencies and individual, in creating an environment conducive to HIV/AIDS prevention, intervention, and services by ensuring human rights and individual freedoms. [9]
The global economic recession that took place close to 2010 reduced the amount of public funding given towards HIV/AIDS organizations and causes. [3]
The declaration listed the harms of the traditional, punitive drug policies and offered drug-policy recommendations in the harm reduction category as alternatives.
The "War on Drugs" drug control policy was a failure, money spent was not only wasted but served to actually cause more damage to society. [10] [11] [12]
A macroeconomic black drug market – valued at $320 billion a year, or the 21st economy in the world – emerged because of traditional drug policies. [10] [13]
The criminalization of drug users has led to the highest global incarceration rates, in which racial disparities at the disproportionately-targeting hands of drug-law enforcement are evident. The incarceration rates change entire community social structures, and in turn functions. [10] [14]
Severe human rights violations have been committed at the expense of punitive drug control methods. Individuals have been forced to trade portions of their civil rights in exchange for security. [10] [13]
The criminalization of drug users — and their subsequent institutionalization — increases the amount, severity and frequency of HIV epidemics within that cohort. The epidemics are exacerbated because institutions have little to no HIV prevention services. [10]
The Vienna Declaration (2010) was a call for evidence-based drug policies prompted by the failure of traditional drug policies in the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Vienna Declaration was published in July 2010 prior to the XVIII International AIDS Conference, 2010 (AIDS 2010), [1] which took place on 18–23 July 2010. [2] The conference's focus was on human rights and its quintessential role in HIV/AIDS pandemic response. [3] The Vienna Declaration was the second formal declaration in an International AIDS Conference, the first was the Durban Declaration (2000). [1] The declaration was a communal effort by: the International AIDS Society, the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP), and the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. [4] The Lancet published a copy of the Vienna Declaration text along with a series of articles and comments on HIV in people who use drugs within the same period of the declaration's release. [5] It initially had its own website (www.viennadelcaration.com) which contained: statements of support, an overview of the declaration. The website has since been taken down. By the end of the conference, the Vienna Declaration had 12,725 signatures. [1] [6]
In 2010, human rights and universal access in HIV/AIDS responses were the central focus of HIV/AIDS organizations, governments, stakeholders, etc. [3] The 1988 IV International AIDS Conference marked a shift — biomedical to social, political, economic, and human rights — in the perspective from which HIV/AIDS was viewed. [1] Target 6.B of the Millennium Development Goals set 2010 as the target year for universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and services. [7] The Declaration of Commitment (2001) set 2010 as a target year to meet specified population goals. [8] The Political Declaration of Commitment (2006) emphasized the importance of government participation, in addition to all other organizations, agencies and individual, in creating an environment conducive to HIV/AIDS prevention, intervention, and services by ensuring human rights and individual freedoms. [9]
The global economic recession that took place close to 2010 reduced the amount of public funding given towards HIV/AIDS organizations and causes. [3]
The declaration listed the harms of the traditional, punitive drug policies and offered drug-policy recommendations in the harm reduction category as alternatives.
The "War on Drugs" drug control policy was a failure, money spent was not only wasted but served to actually cause more damage to society. [10] [11] [12]
A macroeconomic black drug market – valued at $320 billion a year, or the 21st economy in the world – emerged because of traditional drug policies. [10] [13]
The criminalization of drug users has led to the highest global incarceration rates, in which racial disparities at the disproportionately-targeting hands of drug-law enforcement are evident. The incarceration rates change entire community social structures, and in turn functions. [10] [14]
Severe human rights violations have been committed at the expense of punitive drug control methods. Individuals have been forced to trade portions of their civil rights in exchange for security. [10] [13]
The criminalization of drug users — and their subsequent institutionalization — increases the amount, severity and frequency of HIV epidemics within that cohort. The epidemics are exacerbated because institutions have little to no HIV prevention services. [10]