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

December 2013

Dear reader,

We all mourn the loss of Nelson Mandela, a great and kind person and hero, important pioneer in the commitment and care for people living with HIV. We will remember him and continue to appreciate his wisdom as sources of inspiration in our engagement for a future world without AIDS, because, as Nelson Mandela said: “It always seems impossible until it’s done”.

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch Executive Director Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland

In the place of an editorial, we give the word to the South African AIDS organisation Treatment Action Campaign (TAC):

“It will be 11 years since Madiba pulled a white t-shirt with the iconic words “HIV Positive” in purple over his head. In that moment he became one of us and made a powerful statement against stigma, at the same time sending a message to the then denialist government that People living with HIV are part of this country and should be given lifesaving treatment. Madiba was at the time visiting the Treatment Action Campaign and Médecins Sans Frontières in Khayelitsha.

TAC will hold this image of our smiling, waving Madiba close to our hearts during this sad time. Thank you Madiba for what you did for the HIV movement, for TAC and People living with HIV in particular.

Today we also remember the words of Nelson Mandela when he spoke at the closing ceremony of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok in 2004: “We share a common humanity with our brothers and sisters suffering in this epidemic. Ask yourself what you can do as global citizens against the fight against HIV and AIDS. We must never forget our own responsibilities. “

Rest in Peace Tata, today the TAC will again wear our t-shirts with pride, but also with a heavy heart. Lala Ngxolo Tata Madiba. Treatment Action Campaign"

http://www.tac.org.za

Geneva, 5 December 2013 — The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is greatly saddened by the death of South Africa’s former President, Nelson Mandela, one of Africa’s greatest leaders and a passionate advocate for people living with HIV. “Nelson Mandela was a central figure in the AIDS movement,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “His actions helped save millions of lives and transformed health in Africa. He broke the conspiracy of silence and gave hope that all people should live with dignity… Nelson Mandela’s vision and his steadfast commitment to social justice and personal bravery have inspired not only me but millions of people around the world to stand up and speak out for what they believe is right,” said Mr Sidibé.

http://www.unaids.org
http://www.unaids.org

Cape Town, 9 December 2013 - The 17th International Conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Africa, held in Cape Town, South Africa, startet with personal reflections on Nelson Mandelas contribution to the global AIDS response. Mandela's decision to put on a t-shirt emblazoned with the words "HIV Positive" when he met activists in Khayelitsha was a turning point. The head of South Africa's National AIDS Council, Dr Fareed Abdullah, was a director general in the Western Cape health department, recalled the impact of Mandela’s gesture. “With Nelson Mandela behind us – doctors, nurses and people living with HIV – then who could be against us?”(IRIN)

http://www.irinnews.org

1. December 2013 - Mandela's intervention at the international conference in Durban in 2000 was a watershed moment that marked the beginning of his total commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS. The meeting had become a rally of those who wanted life-saving treatment for Africans with HIV. The powerful speeches of Edwin Cameron, a judge with HIV, and a small boy called Nkosi Johnson, who died a couple of years later, brought it to the world's attention. Mandela closed the meeting with a speech that changed the AIDS agenda. The speech marked the beginning of Mandela's total commitment to the battle against HIV/AIDS. " (Sarah Bosley, The Guardian)

http://www.theguardian.com

Durban 14 July 2000 - "To have been asked to deliver the closing address at this conference which in a very literal sense concerns itself with matters of life and death, weighs heavily upon me for the gravity of the responsibility placed on one. .. The challenge is to move from rhetoric to action, and action at an unprecedented intensity and scale. There is a need for us to focus on what we know works. We need to break the silence, banish stigma and discrimination, and ensure total inclusiveness within the struggle against AIDS. We need bold initiatives to prevent new infections among young people, and large-scale actions to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and at the same time we need to continue the international effort of searching for appropriate vaccines. We need to aggressively treat opportunistic infections; and we need to work with families and communities to care for children and young people to protect them from violence and abuse, and to ensure that they grow up in a safe and supportive environment.

http://www.youtube.com

On 28 November 2013, aidsfocus.ch took the occasion of the 10th jubilee of aidsfocus.ch as an opportunity for looking back and for energizing ourselves for the way and to renew its commitment to an AIDS-free future. The speeches of the celebration as well as a photo and video documentation will be online soon.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

"My message to young people is not to play with their lives"

Bern, 1 December 2013 – To mark World Aids Day, the SDC has funded the recording of a song aimed at encouraging young people among others to use protection. Songwriter Sim-Kool, an artist from the Ivory Coast and goodwill ambassador for the Geneva Aids Group, explains why he decided to get involved. “Mon Pote prends Capote” addresses the prevention of HIV and is aimed at young people in particular. “My message to young people is not to play with their lives, to be cautious when starting relationships and most importantly to control their desires. The consequences can be irreversible and destroy their lives”, Sim-Kool says.

http://www.deza.admin.ch

Until End of December 2013, an internet based survey named ANSWER will collect data about sexual health, sexual behavior and risk taking among Sub-Saharan African migrants (SSAm) living in Switzerland. This research is carried out by the Institut de médecine sociale et préventive (IUMSP, Lausanne) on a mandate from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), in cooperation with the Swiss Aids Federation (AHS) and other institutions addressing the prevention and information needs of the African population living in Switzerland. In order to maximize the participation rate, we ask every member of the SSAm community or any person working with them to help disseminate the information and the link about our survey.

http://afric-answer.ch

Geneva, 10 December 2013 - Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS: “I believe we can end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This is a goal we should all aspire to –– but it can only happen if the human rights of all people vulnerable to and living with HIV are realized. HIV has taught us that health and human rights are intricately linked and that we need to protect and respect human rights and be courageous enough to confront society’s wrongs. It is unacceptable that women and girls, sex workers, people who use drugs, migrants, prisoners, men who have sex with men and transgender people are assaulted, violated and murdered, and yet our conscience is not revolted, nor our sense of human responsibility challenged.

http://www.unaids.org

1. December 2013 - Donors pledged an historic $12.007 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for implementation of its new approach that will see more resources targeting key affected populations in the countries least able to pay. The pledges were made before and during the Fourth Replenishment conference in Washington, DC on 2–3 December. While a considerable improvement over the $9.2 billion in pledges made at the last replenishment conference in 2010 for the 2011–2013 period, the pledges fell short of the hoped-for $15 billion the Global Fund has estimated is required to meet the needs in the 150 countries where prevention and treatment programmes are currently supported. Switzerland and Russia were unable to announce their commitments due to ongoing budgetary negotiations at the legislative level.

http://www.aidspan.org
http://www.theglobalfund.org

Johannesburg, 27 November 2013 - The life of a teenager is difficult enough without the added burden of living with HIV, keeping it hidden from friends and sticking to antiretroviral treatment. But new data has revealed that while AIDS-related deaths globally have fallen in the general population over the last seven years, deaths among adolescents rose by 50 percent in the same period and UN agencies are raising the alarm. The World Health Organization (WHO) blames the high number of deaths on the "poor prioritization" of teenagers in national HIV plans; inadequate HIV services, and lack of support for adolescents to remain in care and stick to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

http://www.irinnews.org

Geneva, 22 November 2013 – Gender-based violence is a serious violation of human rights and increases the risk of HIV infection. Recent research has established a clear association between intimate partner violence and HIV, with women experiencing such violence facing a 50% increased risk of acquiring HIV. Gender-based violence is a pervasive reality across the globe––affecting both women and men around the world with women and men from key populations, such as women who inject drugs, female sex workers and transgender people most affected. Responding to gender-based violence and HIV is a matter of shared global responsibility for social justice. In the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, United Nations Member States pledged to eliminate gender inequalities, gender-based abuse and violence, and to protect women from the risk of HIV infection.

http://www.unaids.org

Johannesburg, 11 December 2013 - Nomsa, 20, was on her way to register at a university outside Pretoria, South Africa, with four friends when the men grabbed her. "I was fighting with them," she said. They dragged her into a building, where the five of them took turns to rape her. The friends ran away and did not come back to look for her. Why do some cases call forth strong responses while others get only indifference? "We need to transform public apathy towards violence against women into public empathy for women's rights. Culture, religion and tradition should be used to drive positive behaviours, not to justify violence,” says Lakshmi Puri, UN Women. A multi-sectoral approach would not only address apathy but also its causes. (IRIN)

http://www.irinnews.org

Accelerated progress has been reported in most parts of the world. However, there are worrying signs that some regions and countries are not on track to meet global targets and commitments on HIV. UNAIDS reports that new HIV infections have been on the rise in Eastern Europe and Central Asia by 13% since 2006. The Middle East and North Africa has seen a doubling of new HIV infections since 2001. Key populations including men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, transgender people and sex workers are often blocked from accessing life-saving services. More attention is needed for children and adults aged 50 and over. (2013)

http://www.unaids.org

The new report by UNICEF shows great progress has been made to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with more than 850,000 new childhood infections averted between 2005 and 2012 in low- and middle-income countries. However, the Report raises the alarm on adolescents, citing the need for increased global and national efforts to address HIV and AIDS among this vulnerable age group. AIDS-related deaths amongst adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 increased by 50 per cent between 2005 and 2012, rising from 71,000 to 110,000. There were approximately 2.1 million adolescents living with HIV in 2012. (November 2013)

http://www.childrenandaids.org

The Discussion Papers by the 3 working groups of the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission will be presented at the UNAIDS PCB Meeting in Geneva on 17 December 2013. UNAIDS-Lancet Commission Working Group 1 Discussion Paper “Envisioning “ the end of AIDS: Challenges and prospects” states that the decline in HIV and AIDS has created the springboard for renewed impetus against all facets of this devastating global health problem. Working Group 2 asks “How can the experience of the AIDS response serve as a transformative force in global health and development?” This Working Group is charged with extracting key learning from the successes and failures in the global responses to AIDS and transforming these into lessons that can be used to support more effective responses to global health and development. Working Group 3 discusses how the global health and AIDS architecture should be modernized for the post-2015 development agenda. (November 2013)

http://www.unaids.org

Bern | "Sexual violence and HIV" is the topic of this year's conference, as decided the partners of aidsfocus.ch at the Annual Meeting 28 November 2013. Causes and effects of the double epidemic of HIV and gender based violence are well documented. What are tools and experiences in dealing with the HIV consequences of sexual violence is one of the questions which will be discussed with community based organisations, aidsfocus.ch partners and international organisations. More information will follow soon. Please safe the date!

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Partner organisations: AIDS & Child, Caritas Switzerland, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, IAMANEH Switzerland, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, medico international Switzerland, mediCuba-Suisse, missio, mission21, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss Catholic Women’s League, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (SwissTPH), Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.h