Convened by the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) and co-organized by the Conference Consortium, the annual international harm reduction conferences have grown in importance to become the main meeting point for all interested in harm reduction around the world. Each year, the conference takes place in a different part of the world and covers the latest topics and debates from the field. The International Harm Reduction Development Program of the Open Society Institute has funded scholarships supporting participation by our colleagues in Eastern Europe and Asia for a number of years, and is pleased to do so again for the 2008 conference.

For more information, to submit abstracts and to register, please visit the conference website at www.ihra.net/Barcelona/Home.

"Harm Reduction 2008: IHRA’s 19th International Conference" will take place May 11–15, 2008, in Barcelona. As has been the case in the previous 18 events, the 2008 conference will include high-profile opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions, major sessions, symposia, workshops, training events, a film festival, poster exhibitions, exhibition areas, satellite meetings, social and networking events, and the annual IHRA award presentations.

In addition, the conference organizers endeavor each year to ensure that the event reflects the local issues and experiences of the host city and nation. For the 2008 conference, there will be a focus on Catalonia and Spain, but also on the harm reduction movement across the "Latin" countries (including Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and the countries in Latin America).

In preparation for Barcelona, the International Sex Worker Harm Reduction Caucus has prepared a statement outlining its key messages for the conference. The statement is available for download below.

If your organization would like to sign on in support of this statement, please email psaunders@bestpracticespolicy.org.