Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

VIOLENCE: consequences

& solutions

Pavlo SkalaInternational HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine

HIV AIDS

POLICE

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

POLICE VIOLENCE: just wording

Police: 88 240 82 violence/violation/harassment etc: 42 105 198

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

«Punitive laws and human rights abuses are costing lives, wasting money and stifling the global AIDS response»

The Global Commission on HIV and the Law, July 2012

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Ukraine: just figures 45 600 000 - population (2011) 230 000 - IDUs (estimate, 2011) 70 000 – FSWs 230 000 - PLWHA 202 787 - officially registered HIV-cases (since 1987) 21 178 - registered cases of HIV in 2011 94 671 - IDUs among all cases of HIV (since 1987)

and

350 000 - number of police staff (770 per 100 000 population)

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

• USA – 233

• Poland - 322

• Germany - 321 EU-27 - 352

• Russia - 773

• Ukraine - 770

Per capita of police officers in different countries

(per 100 000 population)

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Examples of police violence in relation to OST clients

Collecting personal information Including HIV status on 6 000 OST patients

(January-February 2011)

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Example of police violence in relation to OST providers

Fabrication of the criminal case against 62 y.o OST physician in Odessa (the Doctor Podolian’s case, 2010-2012)

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Examples of police violence in relation to MARPs (FSW)

Fabrication of pimping case in relation to FSWs Kiev, November 2011-April 2012

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Consequences of police violence

for MARPs

• Further criminalization of IDUs and FSWs

• High level of incarceration of IDUs: prison as incubator for HIV, TB & HCV

• Serious obstacles to implementing Harm Reduction/OST programs

• Further spread of the epidemics among MARPs leading to spread of the epidemics among general population

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Consequences of police violence

for Harm Reduction/OST staff

• Imprisonment • De-motivation and panic among clients • High turnover/refuse to work in HR/OST

programs • Instability and uncertainty of HR/OST

programs• Further escalation of problems caused by

police• Developing of negative public opinion on

HR/OST

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Solutions (1)

• Legislation changes (decriminalization, high police standards, detective and investigation procedures)

• Police/clients education• Support programs to challenge

stigma and discrimination • Improving cooperation between

police and NGOs

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

Solutions (2)

• Monitoring of observing human rights of vulnerable groups

• Investigation of police violence incidents • Police recognize human rights of MARPs• Strategic litigation cases• Media involvement

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.orgwww.aidsalliance.org.ua

THANK YOU !

Pavlo SkalaTel.: +380503825178e-mail: skala@aidsalliance.org.ua