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. On national and regional levels, we provide advocacy support to our member organisations helping raise their voices against inequalities, to fight stigma and discrimination and to advocate for affordable medicines through advocacy trainings, consultancies and project work. This is done via participation in various platforms, initiatives, working with European and international agencies. Learn more about our advocacy channels:

• The HIV/AIDS, TB and Hepatitis Civil Society Forum
• EU Presidencies
• The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board
• Relevant European and international declarations and other documents for advocacy

The HIV/AIDS, viral Hepatitis and TB Civil Society Forum

We serve as secretariat to the EU HIV/AIDS, viral Hepatitis and TB Civil Society Forum (CSF) in collaboration with EATG and coordinate the CSF in collaboration with the Correlation Network, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association, EATG and Global Health Advocates. We represent the CSF in the EU HIV/AIDS, viral Hepatitis and TB Think Tank.

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, viral Hepatitis and TB 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, viral hepatitis and TB in European policy development and implementation and information exchange;
• The CSF enables direct dialogue on EU HIV/AIDS, viral Hepatitis and TB 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.

The members of the CSF meet twice a year. Agenda and reports of each meeting can be found here.

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, viral hepatitis and/or TB 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 following a call for expression of interest;
• Agendas and Meeting Reports of the Civil Society Forum

Find the list of current HIV/AIDS, TB and Hepatitis Civil Society Forum members.

How to contact the Civil Society Forum?

For questions related to the agenda of the forum, please contact the secretariat of the CSF Ann-Isabelle von Lingen (EATG) or Michael Krone (AIDS Action Europe).

EU Presidencies

The EU presidencies co-ordinate the work of the Union. On July 1st, 2018, Austria took over the European Union’s six-month rotating presidency from Bulgaria.

Read more about the programme and priorities of Austria EU Presidency 2018.

Upcoming EU Presidencies:

• Romania: January–June 2019
• Finland: July–December 2019
• Croatia: January–June 2020
• Germany: July–December 2020
• Portugal: January–June 2021
• Slovenia: July–December 2021
• France: January–June 2022

UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB)

The UNAIDS, established as the Joint Programme of the United Nations on HIV/AIDS in 1994, is the first UN programme to have civil society formally represented on its governing body. The NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board (PCB) has three roles:

• Participating objectively and independently in the workings and decision-making of the PCB
• Undertaking various forms of proactive and informed advocacy within the structures and processes of the PCB;
• Enhancing the transparency and accountability of relevant PCB decision-making and policy-setting, helping to meet requirements for upwards accountability (towards the PCB and other delegations) and downwards accountability (towards the people, communities and constituencies affected by HIV)

In 2015, AAE applied for and received a seat at the NGO delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) for 2016-2017, with a third year extension to the end of 2018. After our term has ended, AAE will participate in the PCB meetings as observer NGO and continue to support the NGO Delegation. Our participation on the PCB ensures that European issues are heard and addressed on the global agenda. In participating, we regularly consult with our members and report back to civil society regarding meetings and decisions.

Relevant European and international declarations and other documents for advocacy

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.

• Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: On the Fast-Track to Accelerate the Fight against HIV and to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030 (2016)
• UNGASS Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: Intensifying our Efforts to Eliminate HIV/AIDS (2011)
• Bremen Declaration on Responsibility and Partnership - Together Against HIV/AIDS (2007)
• Vilnius Declaration on Measures to Strengthen Responses to HIV/AIDS in the European Union and in Neighbouring Countries (2004)
• Dublin Declaration on Partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia (2004)
• UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (2001)
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries, 2009 -2013