The Harm Reduction International Conference 2025 “Sowing change for harvesting justice” held in Bogotá, Colombia became a vibrant space of political articulation, situated knowledge, and collective action. This year, Metzineres wasn’t just present — it disrupted, questioned, and reimagined the global paradigm of harm reduction.
From the very first day, our participation was powerful. Silvie Ojeda, our Director of Communications and Advocacy, brought the critical voice of oppressed communities in colonized territories to the opening plenary: where Silvie shared the space with Sam Rivera as chair, Alí Bantú Ashanti from Colectivo Justicia Racial, Colombia, Kojo Koram from Birkbeck College, University of London, UK and Kokila Annamalai from Transformative Justice Collective, Singapore. From the stage, she denounced how colonial structures uphold the war on drugs — a war that, through militarization, harms, excludes, and kills innocent lives with a disproportionate impact on racialized, impoverished people, women, and gender-expansive communities. Her intervention shook the audience and challenged them to rethink which bodies are considered worthy of public policy and which remain criminalized.
That same day, founding director Aura Roig spoke in a parallel session organized by UNODC, focusing on good practices that tackle gender-based violence against women and gender-expansive people who use drugs. With clarity and strength, she highlighted how institutional responses often reproduce more harm than care, asserting that harm reduction must also be a feminist tool against machista violence. On Tuesday, Aura spoke again in a central panel on gender perspectives in harm reduction, alongside international peers like Judy Chang and Wangari Kimemia. She positioned Metzineres’ intersectional, community-based approach as a disruptive alternative to dominant biomedical models — one where care is political, collective, and liberating.
Meanwhile, Silvie Ojeda participated in a special radio broadcast of “Dosis Mínima” hosted by Colombian media outlet Mutante, where she emphasized that beyond substances, it is exclusion and poverty that generate discrimination. Minutes later, she joined “Mujeres Psicoactivas,” led by RIA Institute of Mexico, where she explored how drug policies disproportionately impact women and gender-expansive people. In these spaces, communication became a radical act — where lived experiences and collective reflections echoed truths rarely given a microphone.
In the afternoon, Metzineres took part in two critical events. At a dialogue organized by the Government of Colombia and chaired by Alexander Rivera from the minister of Justice, called Broad-spectrum harm reduction: what is it, how does it take shape, and what challenges does it pose?” This space was key in strengthening the social approach of the Drug Policy, integrating social determinants, a gender perspective, intersectionality, and inclusion strategies. We exchanged experiences that helped consolidate a policy based on care, inclusion, and the reduction of vulnerabilities. We reunited with long-time friends like Liz Evans, Inés Elvira Mejía, and Sarah Evans, Ester Aranda and Jamel Lazic. Together, we shared a rights-based vision shaped by lived experience and local knowledge, stating that Harm reduction isn’t just about drugs—it’s about housing, racial justice, economic justice, and more. The limitations of viewing harm reduction as isolated strategies were also emphasized, especially considering that Colombia has a rich history of community work and centering people. In this sense, they will incorporate lessons learned from Europe, without repeating the same mistakes
Later, Aura chaired the session on drug consumption rooms where experiences from different territories shared insights for building advocacy strategies, alliances, and sustainable models that place users at the center of decision-making.
On Wednesday, Metzineres continued to bring strong presence. At a session hosted by IPPF and AWID on feminist approaches to sexual and reproductive health and rights, Silvie spoke about how our community weaves together desire, pleasure, harm reduction, and bodily sovereignty. She also presented data on the disproportionate impact of the war on drugs on women, girls, and gender-diverse people. Finally, in a session on the criminalization and police violence against Black women, Silvie firmly denounced the systemic violence endured by our sisters and called for radical, active, and committed solidarity with dignified life.
What Metzineres brought to HR25 wasn’t just participation — it was transformation. They challenged audiences to be braver. They demanded that harm reduction truly mean inclusion. They reminded the world that care is political — and that those most criminalized are also those most equipped to lead. In Bogotá, Metzineres didn’t ask for a seat at the table. They built a new one — and invited us all to sit, listen, and act.
At the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025, it was deeply affirming to see all major awards go to women whose tireless work has not only advanced the global harm reduction movement but has also directly nurtured and mentored Metzineres. Inés Elvira Mejía Motta’s unwavering dedication to building inclusive drug policy in Latin America has been a guiding force for our own advocacy, offering both strategic support and heartfelt encouragement over the years. Judy Chang’s fearless leadership in centering the voices of people who use drugs has inspired us to remain unapologetically bold in our demands for dignity and rights. Liz Evans, a pioneer in compassionate care, has shown us what it means to build with integrity, compassion, and long-term vision—reminding us always to place people at the center. And Sue Purchase, with her grassroots power and commitment to sisterhood through Harm Reduction Sisters, has shown us the strength of collective care and the transformative potential of feminist harm reduction in action. These awards are more than recognition—they are a tribute to the women who have lifted us up, walked beside us, and reminded us that another world is not only possible, but already in motion.
We invite you to view photos and videos from this inspiring journey.
