Jude Byrne

Remembering a champion and advocate

Sadly, on 5 March this year, Jude Byrne passed away. In Jude’s passing we lost a truly international champion of harm reduction and a wonderful advocate for drug users’ rights. Jude was instrumental in establishing the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), the national drug user peer organisation, and most recently was the National Coordinator (BBV & STI Peer-Based Policies and Programs) at AIVL. Jude’s outstanding contribution to harm reduction on a global level was formally recognised in 2011, when she was presented with the International Rolleston Award. Whether Jude was raising awareness about the issues for older drug users, women

who use drugs, people on opioid dependence treatment or people living with hepatitis C, she was always articulate and well informed. Jude could surpass researchers, clinicians, scientists and professors with her knowledge and insight because for Jude it was personal. Jude passionately believed that people who use drugs are entitled to the same human rights as the rest of humanity. In a statement, the Kirby Institute noted that “Jude was deeply involved in a number of drug user community organisations for over three decades, including AIVL, the International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU), and the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD). “She was fiercely committed to advocating for the rights and equitable health access of people who use drugs, and was a thoughtful and insightful teacher. Through her various roles over many years, she delivered education on hepatitis C testing and treatment for the injecting community, as well as stigma and discrimination training for the wider community. Addressing inequalities and

championing the human rights for the injecting drug user community was her life’s work, and will remain her legacy.” An INHSU spokesperson said, “Jude was a globally recognised, powerful advocate who fought to advance the health and human rights of people who use drugs with her formidable intelligence, honesty and dignity.” “Jude has been a source of great inspiration to many for decades,” said AIVL’s Mel Walker, “and her legacy will endure, not just through her own enormous contribution to the drug user movement, but also through the many people she has mentored, encouraged and influenced throughout her career who have gone on to make their own very important contributions across the BBV/STI, AOD and related health and social justice fields.” Jude’s passing may have left the international harm reduction community reeling but it was Jude’s contribution to harm reduction and drug users’ rights throughout her life that will be remembered and acknowledged for many years to come. Vale Jude Byrne. v

Carol Holly