Beirut, Lebanon

The Middle East and North Africa Network of People who Use Drugs in collaboration with MENA Rosa organized a regional consultation meeting on women in their diversity to identify advocacy needs that will be worked on during the coming year. The meeting was held at Padova hotel, Sin El Fil, Lebanon from 27 to 29 February 2024. Participants attending the meeting were 18 members of both networks from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. The main facilitators of the training Ms. Sandra Hajal and Ms. Patricia Haddad proceeded in delivering sessions that addressed multiple topics such as drug use, treatment, stigma and discrimination, community empowerment SWOT analysis and advocacy steps. Mr Patrick Farah from SIDC facilitated a session on HIV and sexually transmitted infections highlighting risky behaviors and treatment options. Mr Elie Aaraj and Mr Amjad Malaeb from MENAHRA discussed the importance of harm reduction and the 10 main harm reduction strategies. The facilitators adopted an interactive approach during the sessions and incorporated methods of demonstration, group work, and exercises. Demonstration sessions on safe injecting and condoms use provided participants with a hands-on experience. Multiple working sessions were held to assess opportunities and strengths of the two networks and to select main activities to be implemented jointly in the coming year. By the end of the meeting, participants selected one main advocacy activity aiming at improving access of women to available services and they will be proceeding in its implementation next month.