[van-announce] Community Forum on Women & Harm Reduction

[Jen Efting]

** Please forward widely. Apologies for cross posting **

Community Forum
 Health & Justice for Women who Use Illicit Drugs
Building women-centred harm reduction in our community

 The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users Women's Group is hosting a
community forum on building a women-centred vision of harm reduction. While
women who use drugs are deeply affected by harm reduction initiatives (and
lack of harm reduction initiatives), the harm reduction community is
overwhelmingly led by men. Women have a unique vision for harm reduction and
unique needs to be met by health service providers. All levels of government
have a responsibility to respond the to epidemic rates of death and disease
among women in our community. Women who use illicit drugs are uniquely
impacted by the lack of safe smoking rooms and the lack of assisted
injection facilities in the GVRD.

 *Representatives from the VANDU women's group* will present on women's
experiences in the DTES and our demands for improving women's health. The
VANDU women's group is a group of women who are current or former users of
illicit drugs. We are here to enrich, empower, embrace and care for our
women and our community. We are fighting against poverty, abuse and
discrimination for all women.

 *Dr. Susan, Boyd*, author of two books on women and illicit drugs, also
works with the Centre of Addictions Research at the University of Victoria. She
will speak on "criminal, social service and health regulation of women who
use drugs".

 *When:* Friday, December 9, 6-8pm

*Where:* Gallery Gachet (88 East Cordova Street)

 This is a free event. Snacks will be available.

 For more information contact VANDU at 604-683-6011 or email vandu at vandu.org
.


--
Jennnifer Efting
jen.efting at gmail.com



--
Jennnifer Efting
jen.efting at gmail.com