From Coercion to Care

A TJC webinar series with drug policy reform advocates around the world

26th June 2023 – 30th June 2023

This series participates in a global advocacy campaign called Support. Don’t Punish, held annually on the 26th of June.

Now in its 11th year, the campaign has grown to see 281 cities organise 327 events (2022) to commemorate the shared aspiration for truly safe, humane drug policies.

While Support. Don’t Punish. was initially a response to the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the UN has since adopted a people-first approach, rebranding the event: World Drug Day. The campaign now works toward ensuring states are committed to policies based on health and human rights.

This year is the first time Singapore is participating in the global movement

Through this webinar series, we will explore safety, health and people-centered alternatives to Singapore’s harsh, “zero-tolerance” approach to drugs.

These conversations will target the harmful and reductive narratives that prevent access to support and healthcare, interrogate the myriad reasons for drug use with critical and responsible nuance, and draw inspiration from the efforts for change in contexts both similar and different to Singapore.

All the webinar sessions will be hosted on Zoom. The webinars will also be streamed live on TJC’s Facebook page.

Day 1

Harm reduction: Encouraging care, not use

MON 26 JUN 7.30-8.30PM

Is harm reduction a more meaningful response to drugs than Singapore’s ‘zero tolerance’ approach? Let practitioners who provide harm reduction and support services for people who use drugs in Australia and Brazil show you what they do, why they do it, and how their work changes lives. Read about our speakers, Sarah, Ana, Chris, and our facilitator, Shabir, below:

Day 2

Listen to youth who use drugs

TUE 27 JUN 7.30-8 PM

More and more young people in Singapore are using drugs. What are the unique experiences and needs of youth who use drugs? Ruby (Youth R.I.S.E) and Sachi (TJC) will explore how youth voices can shape drug policy reform and inform health and support services for people who use drugs. Read about our speaker, Ruby, and facilitator, Sachi, below:

Day 3

Using on the margins

WED 28 JUN 7.30-8 PM

This dialogue between Karin (Brazil) and Rayner (Singapore) will delve into how drug use in marginalised communities is connected to longings for autonomy, freedom, choice, and pleasure. Beyond vulnerability, persecution and stigma, what other provocations does using on the margins hold for all of us to contend with? Read about our speaker, Karin, and facilitator, Rayner, below:

Day 4

Reducing risks under prohibition

THU 29 JUN 7.30-8 PM

A conversation with Nilawan, who works on bringing harm reduction services to hard-to-reach ethnic minority communities in the mountains of northern Thailand. We’ll be learning from her how drug policy reform advocates have succeeded in carving out these possibilities even in prohibitionist states that continue to impose harsh punishments on people who use drugs. Read about our speaker, Nilawan, and facilitator, Kirsten, below:

Day 5

Healing in crisis: Stigma kills, support saves lives

FRI 30 JUN 7.30-8PM

For people who use drugs to live with dignity, autonomy and stability, policy reforms and support services are necessary but not sufficient. What role do all of us have within our communities, to make sure that people who use drugs feel able to seek and get the help and care they need, unafraid of stigma and punishment? Kirsten (Scotland) and Simon (Netherlands) will guide us through how we can build informal community capacities to respond to the needs of people who use drugs. Read about our speaker, Kirsten, and facilitator, Sasha, below: