Legal Aid in the Context of Medical Services for Drug Users in Ukraine
In honor of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a presentation of the report “Justice for All: Importance of Legal Aid in the Context of Medical Services for Drug Users in Ukraine” was held at the UNIAN Information Agency on June 24, 2008.
“They brought me to city hospital #1. I honestly told the doctors about my HIV status and… was left to lie on the cold concrete floor in the reception area. I asked them to give me a blanket or at least put me on a free couch, but the doctors refused: “After you we’ll have to disinfect the couch and throw out the blanket.” I tried to make it on my own to the couch but the officers who accompanied me jumped up, began cursing at me and using their feet to shove me back into the corner. Knowing the cruelty of the militia, I understood that if they don’t stop beating me they might cripple me. I had an idea: this is a hospital and there should be people nearby. I started to scream and call for help. And then there were blows to my head. It became dark…”- Olha, client of the legal aid program in Poltava.
With support from the International Harm Reduction Development Program and the Open Society Institute’s (International Renaissance Foundation) Law and Health Initiative, in 2004 projects providing legal aid to drug users operated in five Ukrainian cities: Lviv, Kyiv, Poltava, Chernihiv and Mykolayiv. With the aim of summarizing this unique experience and assessing the importance of human rights work, a documentary study and interviews were conducted with human rights activists and project clients. The results of this unique work were presented during a press conference by:
• Jonathan Cohen, Project Director, Law and Health Initiative, Open Society Institute — New York;
• Roman Romanov, Director of the Rule of Law Program, International Renaissance Foundation;
• lawyers and representatives of the NGOs “Light of Hope” (Poltava) and “All Together” (Lviv).
They presented accounts of people who were victims of extortion and discrimination and who had their housing confiscated and rights violated by the militia, along with information on how a lawyer’s assistance can help defend personal rights.
Contact person:
Serhiy Dyoma, Program Coordinator,
Public Health Program,
Mobile: +38 (050) 310-40-13
Email: dyoma@irf.kiev.ua
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