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OUR WORK

NGO Advocacy
Through advocacy and agenda-setting at global, European, national and local levels, AIDS Action Europe influences HIV 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;
  • Sini Pasanen (AIDS Action Europe) and Nikos Dedes (European AIDS Treatment Group) are co-chairs of the CSF;
  • The members of the CSF meet twice a year.

Who are the Members 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 Sante 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
Download the list of current HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum members.

How to contact the Civil Society Forum?

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

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, 2013, Lithuania took over the European Union’s six-month rotating presidency from Ireland. HIV is no health prioritiy for the Lithianian EU presidency, however drug policy will be. 

Read more about the programme and priorities of Estonia EU Presidency 2017.

Upcoming EU Presidencies:

  • Estonia: July–December 2017
  • Bulgaria: January–June 2018
  • Austria: July–December 2018
  • Romania: January–June 2019
  • Finland: July–December 2019

Declarations of Commitment

The declarations mentioned below are powerful tools that help us advocate for action, commitment and support for the response to HIV and AIDS in Europe.

 

 

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