1. 04.2012 | AIDSFOCUS.CH CONFERENCE 2012: HIV, AIDS AND ADVOCACY. BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE IN POLICIES AND PRACTICE

Berne | 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.

“Advocacy is a process to bring about change in the policies, laws and practices of influential individuals, groups and institutions.” (International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Zimbabwe, July 2001)

----------------------------------------------------------- Tentative program:

1. 15 Welcome and introduction
2. 30 HIV/AIDS advocacy stories: Experiences, strategies, impact

Joshua Mavundu, Batanai, Zimbabwe (partner of fepa) NN, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), South Africa Paulina Alex, Executive Director, NELICO, Tanzania (partner of terre des hommes schweiz) Aashish Masih, Citizen Voice and Action, India (partner of World Vision Switzerland)

1. 30 Lunch
2. 30 Workshops: Discussion with the speakers on advocacy strategies and challenges und role of aidsfocus.ch and its partners
3. 30 Podium discussion with stakeholders from donor agencies, politics and NGOs from North and South
4. 00 Networking apéro

----------------------------------------------------------- Moderation: Kate Molesworth, Steering Committee aidsfocus.ch/ Swiss TPH

Advisory Group: Barbara Müller (fepa), Irene Bush (terre des homes Schweiz), Kate Molesworth (Swiss TPH) and Mike Nielson (World Vision Switzerland).

Organisation and coordination: Helena Zweifel, aidsfocus.ch/ Medicus Mundi Switzerland, hzweifel@medicusmundi.ch

Date and time: 17 April 2012, 9.00 - 17.00

Vernue: Schmiedstube, Schmiedenplatz 5, 3011 Berne

http://www.aidsfocus.ch