The war on drugs enables violence.

Drug use is not an excuse for violence and abuse.

Peer Based Harm Reduction WA acknowledges that women who use drugs are subject to extreme levels and a wide range of physical and psychological harm.

Peer Based Harm Reduction WA supports the International campaign for the elimination of violence against women. In 2019 Peer Based Harm Reduction WA along with Women and Harm Reduction International Network (WHRIN) call for an end to all forms of violence against women who use drugs.

At a State, National and International level, violence against women who use drugs includes, but is not limited to, extra capital punishment, abortion, rape, sexual harassment and extortion, loss of child custody, imprisonment for mere personal possession or use, penalisation for drug use in pregnancy and other types of gendered violations, stigma and discrimination. Due to the war on drugs, women survivors have little recourse and often no support, particularly in cases of violence from police, prison guards, compulsory treatment centre staff and intimate partners. Peer Based Harm Reduction WA and Women and Harm Reduction International Network call for an end to the war on drugs to end this violence against women.

Until significant change has been made and has been sustained for the safety of all women Peer Based Harm Reduction WA offers support to women, including STI services, contraception, pregnancy testing, and referrals to other medical providers. We also provide referrals to specialist providers, such as psychosocial support, family and domestic violence programs, sexual assault support and emergency accommodation services. Peer Based Harm Reduction WA will continue to work with service providers to ensure that people who use drugs have access to the support they need and receive non-judgemental support from all relevant services.

Peer Based Harm Reduction WA would also like to acknowledge the female staff, volunteers and consumers who build our peer expertise, especially in the area of violence towards women. We will continue to advocate for better services and systems in order to eliminate violence against women who use drugs.

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Peer insights on barriers and motivators to Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) treatment uptake

Peer Based Harm Reduction has been collaborating with NSW Users and AIDS  Association (NUAA) and Harm Reduction Victoria on a research project by the Australian Research Center in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS).

This project brings together people who inject drugs (PWID) to translate the 'real time' peer insights into resources that support policy and program development, ensuring that the design of policy and programs are tailored to the needs of communities who inject drugs.

The project has so far produced two broadsheets of insights and the third broadsheet is soon to be released.  Download the full report below.