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10 Policy Recommendations
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The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne infectious diseases is known to be high in vulnerable populations.
Concerned about a resurgent HIV epidemic concentrated among key populations in the EU, service providers and community leaders from across Europe decided to develop policy recommendations. Aim of these recommendations is to inform policy making in Europe, both at national and at EU level, with a view to reducing existing HIV/AIDS-related health inequalities.
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New website IQhiv: Improving Quality in HIV Prevention in Europe
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Check out this new website at www.iqhiv.org!
IQhiv is an initiative of civil society, government, academic and international organizations investigating quality assurance and quality improvement practices relevant to HIV prevention programs and projects across Europe.
IQhiv's mission is to improve the effectiveness of HIV prevention initiatives in Europe by providing tools and technical assistance to implement quality improvement practices.
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Highlights from the 14th Civil Society Forum Meeting
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The HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum (CSF) has been established by the European Commission as an informal working group to facilitate the participation of non-governmental organisations, including those representing people living with HIV/AIDS, in policy development and implementation and in information exchange activities. Below is a short overview of some of the topics that were discussed at the meeting (Luxembourg, December 6 & 7, 2011) including the announcement of the new co-chair.
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Website Meaningful Peer Involvement |
The Correlation Network and the Trimbos Institute have recently launched a website on meaningful peer involvement.
The website gives anyone who is interested in working with peer-based initiatives direct access to an enormous documentation on peer work, illustrated with a wide range of peer involvement experiences. The website can also be used as a support tool or an educational instrument in training sessions and capacity-building initiatives.
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Are you planning to attend AIDS2012? |
Six months to go until the XIX International AIDS Conference in the United States. At AIDS 2010 in Vienna we created a real-life clearinghouse in our Global Village booth. Thanks to the contributions from many of our member and partner organisations, we were able to showcase a wide variety of European and Central Asian good practice materials.
At AIDS 2012 once again we would like to provide our members and partners the opportunity to link and learn in person by organising an another activity in the Conference’s Global Village.
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Upcoming events |
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19-03-2012 - 20-03-2012 (Copenhagen, Denmark)
02-04-2012 - 03-04-2012 (Milano, Italy)
20-07-2012 - 21-07-2012 (Washington D.C, USA)
MSM Pre-Conference
20-07-2012 - 21-07-2012 (Washington D.C, USA)
22-07-2012 - 27-07-2012 (Washington D.C, USA)
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Reports |
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Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases among People who Inject Drugs
This evidence-based joint guidance by ECDC and EMCDDA identifies good public health practice for prevention and control of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs. Common blood-borne viruses in this group include HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The guidance identifies seven key interventions which, in synergistic combination, have been shown by evidence and experience to be effective in the prevention and control of infectious diseases that affect people who inject drugs. A guidance in brief is also available.
Regional Dialogue Report Eastern Europe and Central Asia
This report summarises the proceedings of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Dialogue of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law held in May 2011 in Moldova. The compelling evidence gathered through the dialogue has a vital role to play in raising awareness on the connections between HIV, human rights and the law, and in fostering dialogue between individuals and governments on innovative ways in which law can effectively contribute to achieving better HIV, health and human rights outcomes.
Work plan 2012
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Members section: STAV+ |
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The following section is devoted to the members of AIDS Action Europe. AIDS Action Europe currently unites more than 400 NGOs in 46 countries in Europe and Central Asia. In each e-news, one of our member NGOs presents its organisation and its activities to the rest of the network. We hope that this will inspire other NGOs throughout the region and that it will encourage further linking and learning between our members. Together we can work to a better response to the HIV epidemic!
Do you want to present your organisation in our next e-news? Please contact our communications coordinator Martine van der Meulen.
Our member: STAV+
Association “Stav +” (Attitude+) has been established in June 2008 by people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members and friends, as well as professionals. Our vision is: a society without discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV.
Our mission is centred around 3 areas:
1. To improve quality of live of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV)
2. To create public awareness about HIV and about the problems that PLHIV are faced with
3. To help vulnerable groups of society to develop a need for testing and starting with HAART therapy
Our projects
Since our foundation, we have successfully implemented a number of projects funded by the Global Fund through the Ministry of Health in Serbia. These projects focused on:
- Strengthening involvement of PLHIV in national responses to HIV/AIDS;
- Psychosocial support in everyday life of PLHIV;
- Lobby & advocacy.
In addition to the Global Fund Projects, we are also involved in other projects, including:
- A five-day study tour project in collaboration with the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation aiming to introduce social services offered to PLHIV in Romania to PLHIV in Serbia (funded by Handicap International South East Europe, Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons, International Aid Association – SHIA and Serbian Ministry of Health (2009)).
- ‘Education of future health care workers about reducing stigma and discrimination towards PLHIV’. The project included a series of seminars and trainings for over 200 future health care workers. Evaluation results proved a 70% reduction of discriminatory attitudes among training participants (funded by the Global Fund through Youth of JAZAS (2009-2010)).
Services & activities
- Psychosocial support through self-help groups, counselling 1:1, as well as reference to existing state institutions for social care;
- Health care assistance by collecting medical documentation for our clients and directing them to relevant institutions as well as through home-based care where we visit our clients who need HAART and vitamin therapy;
- Developing new skills and knowledge through involving our clients in various seminars, trainings, workshops;
- SOS telephone support for beneficiaries who would like to be anonymous;
- Re-socialisation of PLHIV by offering opportunities for socialising and experience-sharing, organising weekend trips and other social activities;
- Participating in national and international HIV/AIDS prevention and anti-stigma campaigns.
Today, our association provides services to almost 80% of registered PLHIV on the territory of North and West Backa District, Central and North Banat district, which is a 50% territory of the province of Vojvodina.
Our collaboration partners
We have signed several memorandums of cooperation with government institutions and NGOs that work on improving the quality of life of PLHIV. We also endorse the Ljubljana Declaration. We have developed good working relations with a number of organisations and stakeholders, including:
- USOP (PLHIV Union of Serbia)
- Vojvodina HIV network
- LGBT Adriatic
- Youth of Jazas (Novi Sad)
- Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation (EHO)
- Centre for Social Welfare
- Municipal Ombudsman
- Executive Council of Vojvodina
- Patron of the patients’ rights in the General Hospital
- Red Cross
- Provincial HIV commission
Collaborate with Stav+!
We are looking forward to exchange knowledge and good practices with other networks and organisations in the Balkan, Europe and the rest of the world that deal with the rights and support of PLHIV.
Laslo Sili - Association "Stav+"
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News from the AIDS Action Europe Steering Committee |
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As of January 1st, 2012, some changes have taken place in the composition of the AIDS Action Europe Steering Committee.
We are very pleased to welcome Elena Grigoryeva, already a dedicated member of our Steering Committee, as new Chair. Harry Witzthum has stepped down as Chair but will still make a valuable contribution to AIDS Action Europe as member of its Steering Committee.
We are very happy to announce that Dejana Rankovic (Youth of Jazas, Serbia) Svitlana Moroz (All-Ukrainian PLWH Network, Ukraine) and Anke van Dam (AIDS Foundation East-West, the Netherlands) will join the Steering Committee for a period of 3 years. In addition we welcome Martin van Oostrom (STI AIDS Netherlands) who will take over from Ton Coenen (fixed seat as host organisation) and Ferenc Bagyinszky who was re-elected for a three-year extension.
We are positive that this new composition of the Steering Committee will bring fresh spirit to AIDS Action Europe in reaching our mission of creating a more effective response to the HIV epidemic in Europe and Central Asia!
We cordially thank Joost van der Meer, Iva Jovovic, Tamar Sirbiladze and Ton Coenen for providing expertise and professionalism, as well as for their contribution and commitment to the Steering Committee. It was a pleasure to work with you!
The next Steering Committee meeting is planned for April 2-3 in Milano, Italia. If you wish to raise any issues for discussion by the Steering Committee, please inform us by email at office@aidsactioneurope.org by the end of February latest. Minutes of the meetings are always posted on our website.
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Contact |
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AIDS Action Europe office |
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