Dear friends,

In this week’s update, we look at a groundbreaking live YouTube debate on the failed global war on drugs. Millions of viewers voted to end the war, but in reality we have a long way to go. As a new report reveals, police in Indonesia are still torturing people who are suspected of using illegal drugs.

We also look at what advocates can do to bring change to health care. In India, Dr. Raj is leading the fight to bring pain relief to millions of patients with terminal illness. In Kyrgyzstan, civil society groups have gone to court to demand access to government financial data on health care services.

Thank you for reading and please join the conversation on our Facebook page, Twitter, and blog.

Paul Silva
psilva@sorosny.org
Follow me on Twitter: @PauloNYC

Online Debate Breaks Global Drug Policy Reform Taboo

Millions of viewers worldwide tuned in to a live YouTube debate on the war on drugs. This pioneering method of engagement on social and political issues has given the drug war debate a global audience that was unthinkable a few years ago. Watch the debate and have your say.

Kyrgyzstan: Show Me the Money for Health

Despite an influx of international funding for health, many people in Kyrgyzstan are unable to get the lifesaving medicines that they need. Civil society groups have launched a coordinated effort to monitor and analyze budget spending to identify gaps in health care services. Learn more.

A Champion for the Sick and Dying in India

Dr. Muttacaud Rajagopal is one of the undisputed leaders of the palliative care movement worldwide. His work is motivated by the conviction that no human being, no matter how sick or poor, should suffer from pain in cruel, inhuman, and degrading conditions. Read more about Dr. Raj and his groundbreaking work.

Why Are Police Still Torturing Drug Users in Indonesia?

A recent study funded by the Open Society Foundations uncovered routine torture, illegal detention, and extortion of people suspected of using drugs in Indonesia. If police abuse can happen with impunity, what does this tell us about government accountability? Learn more.

Ending Demand to End Sex Trafficking: Does it Work?

Location:

OSI-New York

Event Date:

April 12, 2012

Event Time:

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Speakers:

Gara LaMarche, Andrea Ritchie, Lisa Kelly, Noy Thrupkaew, Pye Jakobsson

The Open Society Foundations will host a debate on whether campaigns to end demand for prostitution are effective in curtailing human trafficking. Experts will also discuss what impact laws that criminalize sex work have on marginalized communities.

Opportunities

What We're Reading

From Our Twitter Feeds

Follow all health-related tweets from the Open Society Foundations: @OpenSociety/health-team.

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