THE ELECTRONIC BULLETIN OF THE SWISS PLATFORM FOR HIV/AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

1. February 2012

Advocacy will is the focus of the aidsfocus.ch conference 2012 on “HIV, AIDS and Advocacy. Bringing about change in policies and practice”, which will take place in Berne on 17 April 2012.

Communities and their organisations all over the world have been the driving force for the AIDS response over the past 30 years. They played key roles in advocating with governments, promoting access to comprehensive information, prevention, treatment and care for all, combating stigma, and in caring for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Advocacy of aidfocus.ch in Switzerland is inspired by the needs, interests and voices of people in the communities and organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. With advocacy we understand “a process to bring about change in the policies, laws and practices of influential individuals, groups and institutions” (International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Zimbabwe)

In the morning, guest speakers from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa and India will share with us their community based experiences, strategies, successes and challenges, and link it with advocacy on the national and international level. They will hightlight the unique role and value of civil society responses to HIV.

In the afternoon workshops with the guest speaker, we will exchange experiences and discuss strategies, cooperation and roles of Swiss NGO partners in the process for change. The panel with different stakeholders from the South and from Switzerland will take up the issues raised and the need for political and financial commitments to achieving universal access.

We would like to discuss with you the issues raised and would be very pleased to meet you at the aidsfocus.ch conference in Berne.

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch Executive Director Medicus Mundi Switzerland

Support groups of people living with HIV turn more and more into advocacy groups to stand up for their interests and their rights. In Zimbabwe, young people living with HIV who were trained in leadership and advocacy by BHASO (FEPA partner) now dialogue with the government, and whenever necessary, also demonstrate in front of the respective offices in order to get the medication and what is due to them.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in South Africa has played a crucial role in the country’s AIDS response, and is well known beyond the South African borders as a model of successful advocacy and activism. Since 1998, TAC has held government accountable for health care service delivery, campaigned against official AIDS denialism, challenged the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies to make treatment more affordable and cultivated community leadership on HIV and AIDS.

Advocacy is a key component in the struggle towards an AIDSfree future and the fulfilment of the right to health for all. The aidsfocus.ch conference 2012 will focus on advocacy and open a space for sharing, discussion and joint learning on experiences, visions and strategies to end the epidemic.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

1. million people worldwide were living with HIV and AIDS in 2010. These are 1,1 million more than the year before.

The rate of new HIV infections is slowly going down. 2,67 million people got infected in 2010, these are 500’000 less than the year before – but still: 2,67 million new infections.

6,6 million people in low- and middle income countries were receiving treatment in the end of 2010. This is an increase of 1,35 million from the year before. But still, 7,6 million people living with HIV and eligible for treatment do not get it. (UNAIDS Report 2011)

http://www.unaids.org

Partners: Afro-European Medical and Research Network, AIDS & Child, Caritas Switzerland, cinfo, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, HEKS, IAMANEH Switzerland, INTERTEAM, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, medico international Switzerland, mediCuba-Suisse, missio, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, Missio, Mission 21, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch