Recently I had the rare opportunity to address a session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs about the dearth of evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment programmes for people who use drugs and the need for scale up as a key component of achieving universal access. And it's important to note that this opportunity was rare - The Commission on Narcotics and Drugs struggles with hearing the voices of anyone but governments. I sat around waiting for my slot for nearly six hours. The voices of civil society cannot be heard until all Member States have had their chance, so every time I was ready to speak another country put up their flag and we went to the back of the queue. How very different from the reformed environment we've become used to at the Global Fund and UNAIDS. I'm told that my remarks were news to many of the diplomats present. Surprising - and depressing.

Robin Gorna speaks during an AIDS 2010 press briefing at the Commission on on Narcotic Drugs meeting. IAS President Julio Montaner is at right. Credit: UNIS/Vienna.

My remarks to the official body follow along with video taken at the meeting by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union. It focuses on Russia's resistance to implementing evidence-based interventions for people who use drugs. The video contains footage from the AIDS 2010 press briefing we held during the CND meeting and features IAS President Julio Montaner.  More...