The IRF is open for grounded public dialogue on implementation of methadone substitution therapy programs at penitentiary settings
January 11, 2010, All-Ukrainian association of NGOs “Movement against drug addiction and drug crimes” (the movement’s founder is, as we were told, a civic activist Mr. Trokhyn) held 2-hour protest meeting before the office of the International Renaissance Foundation (IRF) at 46 Artema Street. The meeting was dedicated to the protest against implementation of methadone substitution therapy programs at penitentiary settings – the initiative supported by the International Renaissance Foundation in Ukraine.
The protesters were invited to discuss the issue with Yevhen Bystrytsky, Executive Director. The following representatives of non-government organizations took part in the meeting: Dmytro Kostyrko, International Charitable Fund named after N. Potopayeva, Olha Stupnytska, Peremoha v tvoikh rukakh (Victory is in your hands) NGO, other representatives of opposing party, who did not introduce themselves. The International Renaissance Foundation was represented by Viktoriya Tymoshevska, Public Health Program Director and Ruslan Kraplych, Anti-crisis Humanitarian Program Director.
IRF appreciates active civic position of opponents. However, the Foundation does not understand closed character of, allegedly, public civic protest action.
We have been sent no official requests or appeals from protesting organizations, which the foundation could response with arguments from the non-government organizations, promoting implementation of substitution therapy.
During the meeting the invited protesters expressed their simple position on the issue of implementation of methadone substitution therapy at penitentiary settings: “Prohibit! It’s bad!” Only once during the dialogue an important thought from the side of protesters flashed: immediate implementation of such therapy without respective control and counteraction against corruption at penitentiary settings may be used in a negative way. Besides that, protesters did not present any considerable arguments against methadone substitution therapy program at penitentiary settings, but very general slogans.
In the course of the meeting the IRF proposed to submit for IRF consideration an official request from All-Ukrainian association of NGOs “Movement against drug addiction and drug crimes”, with their grounded position on the given issue. We also proposed to conduct a well-reasoned dialogue with other non-government organizations, which provide their arguments regarding efficiency of the methadone substitution therapy programs at penitentiary settings in Ukraine. We hope to receive a clear response to our proposal.
The IRF is ready for open public dialogue on this issue. We declare once more the position, which is crucial for us: the Foundation is ready to support any, but grounded, dialogue of non-corrupted non-government organizations and associations of citizens with their opponents. Non-corrupted means that they are not linked to any politicians or those who on certain reasons desire to preserve the current state of affairs: when narcotic drugs are illegally used at penitentiary institutions.
The International Renaissance Foundation’s justification based on the positive world experience in developed countries regarding implementation of methadone programs you may read here.
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