In June 2021, Member States at the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) on HIV and AIDS adopted a Political Declaration to end inequalities and get on track to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The amazing Global Drug Survey - which, for 10 years has gathered data from survey participants in order to create a realistic picture of drug use the world over - has been launched for 2022! And, whilst the global North is well-represented, data from African nations is patchy at best - but we can change that.

As the 21st International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) in Durban, South Africa comes to an end, so those key populations throughout the continent that are most affected by the policies and funding directed towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS by 2030 have come together on the sidelines of ICASA2021 to draft and sign the Durban Declaration.

Love Alliance is committed to protecting, promoting, and fulfilling SRHR globally. Our five-year programme aims to achieve a significant reduction in HIV incidence by influencing policies, organising communities, and raising awareness on rights and health in Morocco, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa. The Love Alliance occupies a critical space in promoting SRHR by unifying marginalized populations in a strong pan-African activist movement, led by young people, and bringing local voices to a global audience to influence decisions that affect their rights, health, and lives.

We’re very proud to report that the FEMALIVE Commemorative Silent Walk on Friday 26th November in Cape Town was an unqualified success, and achieved it aims of raising the call for an end to violence against women who use drugs, and against Gender-Based Violence, just as the Global 16 Days of Activism Against GBV commenced for its 2021 campaign.  

All too often, we don't hear from those people who matter most. They are being criminalised, discriminated against, and pushed aside, because of who they are or what they do.

Therefore, on World Aids Day (1 December) and at ICASA -the International Conference for AIDS & STIs in Durban, South Africa from 6th to 11th December, the Love Alliance is giving voice to those people who need to be heard from communities most at risk of HIV to changemakers wanting to make a change.

We're proud to announce the recent publication by Harm Reduction Journal of a leading paper that unpacks how failed policy approaches in the Global South have played a role in sustaining the legacy of colonization.

The question might be asked: "Why would previously colonized nations continue to implement and adopt drug policies that were originally designed to oppress their own people, often at the cost of the loss of traditional and material culture?'. This paper raises this, and many other, important questions. 

The following story is taken from SANPUD Gauteng Regional Representative Koketso Mokubane's presentation on his personal journey of contracting viral Hepatitis (HCV), given during the Tshwane Substance Use Research Symposium in Pretoria on Tuesday 16th November 2021.

This year on November 26th, you are invited to join us in standing in solidarity with Women Who Use Drugs, as part of the global #16DaysOfActivism campaign to highlight Gender-Based Violence!