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NGO Advocacy

Through advocacy and agenda-setting at global, European, national and local levels, AIDS Action Europe influences AIDS policies. We ensure that the voices of NGOs are heard by policy makers, European institutions and key stakeholders. We co-chair the EU HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum and are member of the EU HIV/AIDS Think Tank. Other channels used are EU presidencies and international meetings.

In this section you will find information about:

The HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum

What is the Civil Society Forum and how does it work?

  • The Civil Society Forum (CSF) is an informal advisory body established by the European Commission DG Health and Consumers in 2005
  • It enables informal consultation of the HIV/AIDS Think Tank (consisting of EU member states) and Commission services with civil society
  • The CSF facilitates participation of NGOs and networks, including those representing People Living with HIV/AIDS, in European policy development and implementation and information exchange.
  • The CSF enables direct dialogue on EU HIV/AIDS policies between policy makers and civil society
  • The CSF follows up on the high level commitments on HIV/AIDS of the EU and its Member States
  • Yusef Azad (AIDS Action Europe) and Luis Mendao (European AIDS Treatment Group) are co-chairs of the CSF
  • The members of the CSF meet twice a year

Click here to download the civil society forum meeting reports.
A brochure about the civil society forum can be downloaded from our clearinghouse.

Membership of the Civil Society Forum

  • Members are about 40 representatives of a very wide range of NGOs, national networks and regional networks, which are active on HIV/AIDS prevention, support and advocacy
  • They originate from most of the Member States of the EU, as well as from accessing and neighbouring countries
  • The membership term is 3 years
  • Members are selected by DG Sanco and the Commission Task Force following a call for expression of interest
  • 30 members from the forum are eligible for reimbursement from the Commission for participation in the meetings

A list of HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum Members is available on the EU Health website.

Contact the Civil Society Forum

For questions related to the agenda of the forum, please contact one of the two co-chairs Yusef Azad (AIDS Action Europe) or Luis Mendao (EATG). If you have any questions about logistics, participation or reimbursement, please contact DG Sanco.

The EU and HIV/AIDS

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been an important focus of concern and action of the EU's public health activities since the late 1980's. The Commission communication on combating HIV/AIDS of 2005 provided a policy instrument to address HIV/AIDS on a European level and has been the basis for EU action from 2006 to 2009.

The Commission has renewed its commitment by adopting a strategy on combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries for the period 2009-2013.

Browse through the EC Public Health page on HIV/AIDS to find more information about the involvement of the Commission.

EU Presidencies

The EU presidencies co-ordinate the work of the Union. On July 1st, Belgium took over the European Union’s six-month rotating presidency from Spain.

Upcoming EU Presidencies:

  • Belgium July-December 2010
  • Hungary January-June 2011
  • Poland July-December 2011
  • Denmark January-June 2012
  • Cyprus July-December 2012
  • Ireland January-June 2013
  • Lithuania July-December 2013
  • Greece January-June 2014
  • Italy July-December 2014
  • Latvia January-June 2015
  • Luxembourg July-December 2015
  • Netherlands January-June 2016
  • Slovakia July-December 2016
  • Malta January-June 2017
  • United Kingdom July-December 2017
  • Estonia January-June 2018
  • Bulgaria July-December 2018
  • Austria January-June 2019
  • Romania July-December 2019
  • Finland January-June 2020
AIDS Action Europe is the regional partner of the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)