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XVIII International AIDS Conference
In Vienna, on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th , under the invitation of the International Federation, Dr. Barra took part in the seminar organized for RC/RC participants at the International AIDS Conference 2010. Around 35 National Societies took part in the event.
Dr. Barra chaired the last session on the issue of the relation between Harm Reduction and HIV prevention.
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Meeting with Georgia doctors
On July 14th, Dr. Massimo Barra met with 10 medical doctors from Georgia sent in Rome by the Georgian Red Cross in collaboration with the Georgian Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs on the occasion of a four-day training course on harm reduction at the Italian Red Cross.
In his one-hour speech, Dr. Barra highlighted Movement’s position on the issue, recalling that the first Red Cross Resolution on substances abuse goes back even to 1922 at the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Bangkok.
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International Seminar on Social Affairs and Family
Invited by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, Massimo Barra delivered, on July 6th, a speech on "Treatment and social rehabilitation of drug addicts" as part of the international seminar organized by the Parliamentary Commission on Social Affairs and Family. Copy of the speech in Portuguese can be requested to the Standing Commission Secretariat.
Massimo Barra with the president of the commission, Deputy Vieira Da Cunha
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Commemoration in Solferino
In Solferino on Saturday, June 26th, Massimo Barra participated in the XVII edition of the "Torchlight" commemorating the historical battle of 1859 and the birth of the idea of the Red Cross with more than 8000 Red Cross/Red Crescent Volunteers from all over the world.
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Movement Matters with Azerbaijan RC Leaders
On June, 11th Dr. Barra met with the Secretary General and the Vice Secretary General of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent, with whom he discussed about the current situation of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the Region and in the most problematic areas of crisis in the world.
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Harm Reduction training for NS
On June, 10th Dr. Massimo Barra received representatives of National Societies from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, who gathered in Rome for a training on Harm Reduction and substance abuse organized by the Italian Red Cross and the IFRC.
Dr. Barra with participants, trainers and a group of former drug users
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Address to the Governing Board of the International Federation
Geneva, 19 May, 2010
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“Law Enforcement and Health Care cooperation, a Humanitarian People-Centred Preventive Approach ” Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice UNODC
Vienna, 18 May, 2010
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Meeting with the Republic of China Red Cross Society
On April 26th, Mme. HAO Lina, Vice President of RCSC met with Dr. Massimo Barra, Chairman of Standing Commission of Red Cross and Red Crescent in Beijing.
During the meeting, Mme. HAO briefed Dr. Barra on the relief activities carried out by RCSC after the earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai on Apr. 14th,, as well as RCSC's participation in the preparation of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Pavilion in Shanghai EXPO.
Mme. HAO also introduced to Dr. Barra the youth activities carried out by RCSC.
Dr. Barra gave recognition to RCSC activities and hoped that it can make a step further in the field of Red Cross Youth.
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Dr Barra visits the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Dr Massimo Barra visited the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 26 to 30th of April 2010. During his courtesy visit, Dr Barra met with members of the Society’s leadership and discussed issues around cooperation within the Movement.
He visited the branch in Kaesong City and was introduced to some of the Societies’ activities and assistance programmes. He encouraged the Society to continue to uphold the Movement’s fundamental principles and to serve the vulnerable people. Dr Barra also met with H.E. Mr Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly through a courtesy visit.
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8th European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference, Vienna
Opening address by Dr Massimo Barra
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General Assembly of the Turkish Red Crescent, Ankara
Opening address by Dr Massimo Barra
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Harm Reduction Training course in Rome
The Chairman of the Standing Commission met with a group of NS representatives on March, 25th in Rome on the occasion of the Training Course on Harm Reduction organized by the IFRC and the Italian Red Cross.
Present were distinguished lecturers as well as delegates from Armenia, Belarus, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, IFRC representatives from Geneva, Budapest and Moscow and the ERNA President (European Red Cross/Red Crescent Network on HIV/AIDS and TB).
In his speech, Massimo Barra congratulated National Societies from Eastern Europe and Central Asia on quantitatively and qualitatively improving services targeted to drug users and the prevention of HIV transmission amongst hard-to-reach population in a few years.
The Chairman reiterated that “those harm reduction initiatives have taken place within the framework of the follow-up to the Decision 29 of the XXV International Red Cross/Red Crescent Conference. Since then, drug phenomenon has been spreading throughout the world and it has become bigger and more complicated”.
Consequently, participants of the Training Course together with Massimo Barra hoped that the next International Conference will adopt a resolution which will take into consideration the overall experience gained over the last few years in this field.
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Standing Commission at the 11th Mediterranean Conference |
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The Standing Commission organised a consultation with National Society (NS) leaders attending the Mediterranean Conference in Croatia in Mid-March. Chaired by Dr Massimo Barra, the aim was to explore the views of the participating leaders on suggested options for change concerning the Council of Delegates and the International Conference scheduled for November 2011 in Geneva.
A key issue discussed concerned ways of improving the interaction with National Societies in the shaping of the agenda for the meetings. Also, the involvement of ICRC and International Federation regional structures in building dialogue with the Societies to map important issues and concerns as potential agenda items was touched upon, as was the issue of the duration of the statutory meetings.
The Standing Commission will continue to collect National Society views and inputs into its work concerning all Movement fora to inform its work when preparing decisions and possible changes aiming at reducing complexities and increasing efficiency at the Movement’s meetings.
Dr Barra also addressed the opening session of the Conference.
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Donor Conference in support of the Joint UNODC/WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care
At the invitation of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, the SC Chairman, Massimo Barra, attended the Conference of Donors supporting the WHO – UNODC Joint Program on Drug Dependence Treatment Care (The Hague, February 10, 2010).
Around fifty experts from Ministries, Directors General, National experts responsible for fighting against drugs have taken part in the Conference from all over the world.
The purpose of the Conference was to spread the latest scientific evidence on the treatment of drug users, seeking resources to strengthen suitable intervention strategies.
Drug consumption is increasing throughout the world and is considered one of the top 20 health risks, whereas the availability of proper treatments covers only 10% of the actual needs.
In his intervention, Massimo Barra, who attended the Conference in the framework of the follow up of Decision 29 of the 25th International Conference (1986), congratulated the WHO and UNODC on having provided a common initiative for a humanitarian policy on drugs. He declared that it is unacceptable that in many parts of the world treatment does not respect basic human rights, as if drug users were nothing but second class individuals.
During the Conference, unanimous consensus was reached on the following points:
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addiction is a brain disease;
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patients’ needs should be at the core of any intervention;
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the need for nothing else apart for what it is expected for the treatment and the care of other diseases;
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detoxification alone is not a treatment and can even be a dangerous practice;
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the need for pragmatic, evidence-based, ethical treatments, respecting human rights of patients;
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health-oriented treatments;
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proven cost-effectiveness of substitutive treatments and other harm reduction practices;
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the need to inform and mobilize public opinion and local authorities in order to overcome several prejudices and false opinions and to launch well-known effective programs of intervention all over the world.
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Finally, commenting on the results of the Conference in the Movement’s perspective, Massimo Barra declared: “I think that time has come to update and implement the role of our Movement on that topic, bringing the issue to the attention of the next International Conference”.
Statement by Dr. Massimo Barra
Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, at the Donor conference in support of the Joint UNODC/WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care.
The Hague, the Netherlands. February 10th , 2010
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Steve Carr visits Rome
SC member Steve Carr met with the Chairman Massimo Barra at the Italian Red Cross in Rome on February 3rd, 2010.
Among the topics discussed was the desire expressed by many National Societies during and after the 2009 Nairobi General Assembly and Council of Delegates. The Societies wish to be more included into the preparatory process of the statutory meetings of the Movement and request a stronger connection between the outcomes of the workshops and the conclusions of the Council of Delegates.
The necessity to increase the communication flow from the Standing Commission through its website and newsletter was also discussed.
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