ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, is set to help the world renowned International Harm Reduction Association celebrate its 21st anniversary from 25 – 29 April 2010.
The conference, which held its first ever event in Liverpool in April 1990 is returning to the city for a five-day event entitled ‘Harm Reduction 2010 – The Next Generation’.
Professor Gerry Stimson, Executive Director of IHRA said, “Bringing the conference back to Liverpool – its first home – is significant for us as the Mersey region was one of the first places in the UK and the world to formally implement a harm reduction approach to illicit drug use.”
Commencing on 25th April 2010, the convention will be the meeting point for over 1200 delegates from 90 countries who are involved in harm reduction ideas and practices.
Previous IHRA events have been held in destinations including Barcelona, Toronto, New Delhi and Bangkok. Liverpool is the only city in mainland England to have hosted the conference on two separate occasions.
Commenting on the event, Liverpudlian Paddy Costall, MD of the Conference consortium which is the organiser of the IHRA conference said, “We wanted to give delegates an experience similar to that of the first ever conference and ACC Liverpool has helped us achieve precisely that but on a much larger scale. With the city having contributed significantly to the adoption of harm reduction and the importance of its presence within the world, we are proud of Liverpool’s support in hosting IHRA’s prestigious 21st anniversary event.”
Jacquie Rogers, General Manager BT Convention Centre Liverpool said, “We feel privileged to be welcoming such a renowned conference to ACC Liverpool for what looks to be a promising and encouraging event. We are delighted that IHRA has chosen to return to Liverpool on this celebrated occasion and that we have been given this opportunity to support and host. The team at ACC Liverpool looks forward to welcoming all hosts, delegates and press.”
Harm Reduction 2010 “The Next Generation”, the International Harm Reduction Association’s 21st International Conference will take place at BT Convention Centre Liverpool from Sunday April 25 – Thursday April 29, 2010.
