The Viet Nam Network of People Living with HIV (VNP+) was legally registered early November and officially launched on 24 November 2009, with the support of the Joint UN Team on HIV in Viet Nam.

VNP+ represents the combined strength of 150 self-help groups and alliances of People Living with HIV from various parts of Viet Nam, and ensures their meaningful involvement in the national response to AIDS.

“Networks of people living with HIV are highly effective mechanisms for building partnerships and advocating for Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support,” said Ms Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Management and External Relations who attended the network launching ceremony in Hanoi.

“I would therefore like to congratulate the government of Viet Nam for ensuring that people living with HIV are fully involved at every stage of the national response to HIV,” she added.

Registered as a local NGO under the name of Action Center for People Living with HIV, VNP+ is also mandated to provide training and create job opportunities for People Living with HIV and those affected by HIV; conduct information and communication activities on HIV/AIDS and promote research and prevention, care and treatment programs.

“The network will act to empower those living with and affected by HIV to overcome stigma and discrimination and contribute to the national response,” stated VNP+ representative Do Dang Dong, asserting “we look forward to a close partnership with the government, other civil society and with international organizations to best perform our role.”

The Joint UN Team on HIV and other partners particularly PEPFAR, have provided technical and financial support to VNP+ since its establishment in 2008. Earlier this year, the Joint UN Team supported the network with training on results based project management, policy advocacy skills and organization of regular information sharing meetings and its annual review meeting.

The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board delegation attended the launch of VNP+ during their field visit to Viet Nam in 23-24 November.

Besides visiting UN supported projects and programmes on the ground, the delegation also met with government leaders, including the Chair of the National Committee on AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé with Dr. Zhao Hongxin, winner of the Positive Commitment, Treatment and Care Award in Shanghai, China on 23 November 2009. Credit: UNAIDS

UNAIDS Executive Secretary Michel Sidibé arrived in Shanghai this week on the first leg of a two-city visit to China. During the visit, Michel Sidibé will visit Shanghai and Beijing, launch the 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update and meet with many key partners from Chinese government and civil society. Michel Sidibé began his visit by attending a prize giving ceremony organised by the China office of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, an organization that works to improve treatment conditions for people living with HIV at the local, regional and international levels.

During the ceremony, prizes were awarded to civil society figures, medical workers, government officials and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to the response to AIDS in China, in the fields of community mobilization, treatment and care, and policy implementation.

Dr Cai Weiping, a doctor renowned for his work with people living with HIV, was awarded a prize for his contributions to treatment and care. Accepting the prize, Dr Cai said “I have received many awards in 26 years of being a practising physician, but this is the first prize I’ve ever received from the community, or from my patients. The best recognition that a doctor can receive is not from the government or from a hospital, but from his patients.”

Michel Sidibé highlighted the importance of the dedication shown by prize recipients: “I think what we are talking about today is restoring dignity,” Michel noted, “When I was listening to the people who have been working hard, giving voice to the voiceless, I feel like it is not just about receiving an award, it’s about saving lives, it’s about giving social justice, it’s about redistributing opportunity.”

After presenting awards at the ceremony, Michel Sidibé met for lunch with workers and volunteers from local Shanghai civil society organizations. Joining the lunch were representatives from organizations working with a range of key populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgender people.

Over lunch, Michel Sidibé heard about the issues and difficulties faced by these populations and the organizations which work to support them. Participants felt that civil society could make a far greater contribution to the response to AIDS, both in Shanghai and in China as a whole. Many felt that the Chinese government needed to work more closely with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society partners to provide services and gain access to key populations such as sex workers and drug users. These key populations are often highly reluctant to seek services or accept help from government bodies, particularly due to the fact that they are often criminalised, and therefore remain cut off from vital prevention, treatment and care services.

Michel Sidibé discussed these issues and expressed his agreement, stressing the critical importance of NGO involvement in national AIDS responses, including meaningful participation in policy formulation and implementation of prevention, treatment and care services. Michel commended the participants for the work they were carrying out. He told them that “achieving social change and challenging strongly-held attitudes is not an easy task, and requires time, patience and commitment,” but encouraged them to continue to strive to achieve these important goals.

To promote a bigger role of NGOs in the HIV response in Moldova, the League of People Living with HIV of Moldova in collaboration with UNAIDS, hosted a two-day national NGO forum in Chisinau. Credit: UNAIDS

Speaking with many voices and representing many different perspectives, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in the response to the AIDS epidemic in countries around the world. As key partners in the development of national AIDS responses, NGOs are well positioned to provide quantative and qualitative information to augment the data collected by governments.

To promote a bigger role of NGOs in the HIV response in Moldova, the League of People Living with HIV of Moldova in collaboration with UNAIDS, hosted a two-day national NGO forum in Chisinau in the middle of June.

Bringing together more than 120 representatives from the civil society, government and international organizations, the Third Forum of Nongovernmental Organizations of Moldova active in area of HIV and TB included 26 NGOs representing all regions of Moldova. Presenting results achieved in the past year while exchanging opinions and experiences, participants agreed that joint efforts are essential for an effective response to AIDS.

Oleg Lozan, Vice Minister of Health, said at the opening ceremony that Moldova has made progress in the AIDS response thanks to the joint efforts made by government and non-governmental organizations. “The civil society’s contribution is huge,” said Lozan, “NGOs have largely covered areas insufficiently reached by the state in the AIDS response.”

Civil society participation in responding to the epidemic has been institutionalized in Moldova through the establishment of several coordination mechanisms such as the Harm Reduction Network, the network of NGOs working in the field of HIV, and the National League of People Living with HIV.

Presenting results achieved in the past year while exchanging opinions and experiences, participants agreed that joint efforts are essential for an effective response to AIDS. Credit: UNAIDS

The government of Moldova supports the involvement of NGOs in scaling up the country’s response to HIV. NGOs are active members of the National Coordination Council TB/AIDS and its associated technical working groups and they have fully participated in the formulation of the new 2007 Law on Prevention of HIV/AIDS.

“Civil society involvement has been consolidated in the country and they have contributed to the progress made in different priority areas of the national AIDS response such as HIV prevention, adherence to ARV treatment, harm reduction, and support and care for people infected with and affected by HIV,” said Gabriela Ionascu, UNAIDS Country Coordinator.

HIV in Moldova

Moldova is classified as a country with low prevalence of HIV. According to UNAIDS 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, an estimated 8,900 people are living with HIV in the Republic of Moldova, with 29% being women.

The main mode of transmission is the use of contaminated equipment by injecting drug users. However there are signs of HIV spreading into the general population as unprotected sex is an increasing mode of transmission in the country.

According to a national report issued by National Centre on Health Management in 2008, the proportion of Moldova women among newly reported HIV cases with sexual route of transmission is also growing (62% in 2007, compared to 57% in 2006).

Participants at the regional consultation organized by the UNAIDS Regional Support Team, in collaboration with three regional civil society networks (AfriCASO, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ENDA Santé) in Dakar from 11 to 14 August 2009. Credit: UNAIDS

Thirty civil society organizations involved in the HIV response in West and Central Africa (WCA) identified six priority areas for action to accelerate the movement towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the region. This decision was the outcome of a regional consultation organized by the UNAIDS Regional Support Team, in collaboration with three regional civil society networks (AfriCASO, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ENDA Santé) in Dakar from 11 to 14 August 2009.

The consultation was an opportunity to define concrete actions to be taken in the West and Central African region to achieve universal access targets and Millennium Development Goals considering the central role played by civil society organizations in the response to AIDS.

Over four days, the consultation brought together representatives of regional and national networks of people living with HIV, women, youth, religious leaders, parliamentarians, media, traditional practitioners, human rights associations, people with disabilities, trade unions, men who have sex with men, international NGOs involved in the HIV response as well UN system representatives.

Despite significant efforts in recent years made by countries to improve the response to the epidemic, participants underscored that many challenges remain to be addressed by all stakeholders to accelerate the movement towards universal access in West and Central Africa. Participants committed to coordinate their efforts towards the following six priority areas: Sustainable funding of the AIDS response; integration of HIV, tuberculosis and sexual and reproductive health services; improving the legal and societal framework; access to treatment and accelerating prevention; access to prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services; and innovation, communication and partnership.

For example, only 11% of pregnant women requiring services to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission have access to them and only 25% of people living with HIV in need of antiretroviral drugs have access to treatment. The participants underlined that the quality and coverage of services and interventions targeting most-at-risk populations need to improve in most of the region. They noted the urgency to support countries in adopting laws protecting human rights that guarantee access to HIV services for all and provide effective protection for the most-at-risk populations. Participants also highlighted the urgent need to integrate HIV services into the tuberculosis programmes.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has for the first time awarded consultative status to a Latin-American non-governmental organization representing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. The organization, the Brazilian national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Association (ABGLT), will now be able to present oral and written reports at UN meetings and organize events on UN premises.

The ABGLT has said that its primary goal will be to highlight injustices around the world faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, particularly in the 80 countries in the world have legislation that prohibits same sex behaviour.

UNAIDS welcomes the decision by ECOSOC and fully supports the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. UNAIDS works closely with such organizations in the AIDS response and will continue to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for people living with HIV and those more vulnerable to HIV infection.

More than 200 participants from 54 regions of Russia discussed the strategic development of the All- Russian Union of People Living with HIV for the next two years during its first conference in June 2009.
Credit: UNAIDS

The official registration of the All-Russian Union of People Living with HIV has become a major breakthrough in the national response to AIDS in the Russian Federation. The All-Russian Union was officially registered in May 2009 and had its first conference in June 2009 under the theme “All –Russian Union of People Living with HIV: Actual Issues of Development”.

The organization has gone a long way from the first meeting in 1998 when a few people living with HIV and representatives of different public organizations gathered together and realized the need to join their efforts for a more effective work in the AIDS response. It was not an easy process to work out the mission and agree on the principles of joint work and organizational structure. Discussions, debates, fights, and reconciliations were happening parallel to real day to day work in different NGOs active in the AIDS response.

Now, the organization unites people from 50 regions of Russia. It’s based on a district principle which ensures democracy and representation in the framework of the network and consolidation of participants’ efforts.

“Our organizational mission is this: we, people living with HIV join our potential and efforts to improve the quality of life of every person affected by HIV in Russia, says Vladimir Mayanovsky, the Chairman of Coordination Council of All-Russian Union of People Living with HIV. Our organization provides an excellent opportunity to improve the involvement of people living with HIV in the national AIDS response and contribute to fight HIV at federal and regional level. We are qualified and equipped with different knowledge and skills to become the real leaders in the civil society’s response to the epidemic”.

Members of All Russian Union of People Living with HIV are active in providing prevention programmes, self support groups, palliative care, organizing special advocacy events and working with most at risk population groups. The members are divided in subcommittees which focus on different thematic areas. These subcommittees provide consultation services to thousands of people living with HIV in Russia.

Members of the Union also advocate to addressing urgent issues such as the lack of confidentiality for children living with HIV in primary school care and medical institutions or the law that does not allow people living with HIV to adopt children. Members of All –Russian Union of People Living with HIV cooperate with penitentiary system and provide social support to people released from prisons.

Local branches of the Union have also initiated new projects in their areas. For example, one branch in Dagestan introduced a special educational course on HIV prevention at Dagestan Social University which is being implemented by one of the members of the Union. The branch in Volgograd opened a hotline that provides quality information on AIDS issues. The branch in Khanty-Mansiysk federal region, which is one of the regions most affected by HIV in Russia, provides assistance in accessing antiretroviral treatment to those in need. In Siberia another union member initiated HIV testing in remote areas by inviting medical professionals from regional AIDS Centers to go there.

Dr.Larisa Dementyeva, a representative from the Department on HIV/AIDS of the Russian Federal Service of Surveillance Over Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being welcomed the All-Russian conference of People Living with HIV in Russia.

“Members of All Russian Union People Living with HIV are knowledgeable and enthusiastic young people, said Dr. Dementyeva. We consider the Union as our partner in meeting the needs of people living with HIV. The Union plays a very significant role in raising awareness about HIV prevention, reducing stigma and promoting tolerance.”

More than 200 participants from 54 regions of Russia discussed the strategic development of the All- Russian Union of People Living with HIV for the next two years and adopted the resolution of the meeting.

“The All- Russian Union of People Living with HIV has strong leadership, transparent structure, partners in government and civil society. The organization has a huge potential. We consider it as one of our leading partners in civil society in strengthening HIV responses at national level”, said Dr. Marina Semenchenko, UNAIDS Team Leader a.i. in Russia.

Participants at Global Citizens Summit to End AIDS which took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 27 to 29 May 2009. Credit: Global Citizen Summit 2009

Leonard is the father of five daughters, one of whom, recently turned 14, was born HIV positive. In addition to juggling with the responsibility of raising a family of girls, Leonard is becoming very concerned about the new challenges he’s facing with having a positive teenage girl at home. “She is growing and as a father, I must help her grow into a mature and responsible woman. How should I talk to her about sex given her HIV positive status without instilling a sense of guilt? I do not find the guidance to help me respond to her needs,” he said.

This question was one of many others at the core of the Global Citizens Summit to End AIDS which took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 27 to 29 May.

The Citizen’s Summit was organized by a determined group of civil society, including Africa CSO Coalition against HIV&AIDS, Asia People’s Alliance for combating HIV&AIDS, Africaso, Eanaso, Heard, Cegaa, OXFAM, ActionAid, the UN Millennium Campaign, Healthlink World Wide, Panos and Pamoja. The idea stemmed from the observation that there is a growing gap between the needs of the people at the forefront of the epidemic and the response that is offered at the global level.

(from left) Leonard Okello of ActionAid, Salil Shetty, and Alloyce Orago of NACC during the official opening of the 2009 Citizens Summit Credit: Global Citizen Summit 2009

Addressing an audience of over 250 front line practitioners, Leonard Okello, who heads ActionAid’s HIV and AIDS unit, said: “We are meeting here at a time when the world is witnessing an increasing sense of AIDS fatigue, and witnessing serious global crises: food, climate, financial and emerging epidemics. A time when there is a big global debate on AIDS funding versus health funding and we, the people at the frontline of the AIDS response, are not on the debating table”.

During the three days meeting, the participants from grass root communities, networks of people living with HIV, faith based groups and other civil society groups came together under the umbrella of the Summit’s title “Reclaiming our Role in Universal Access” to share their experience at the front line of the response to AIDS. Their objective was to learn from their peers how they can better support people living and affected by HIV in their communities and where they can find support and guidance. The Summit was also an opportunity for them to consolidate in a roadmap the challenges that communities are facing on the road to universal access and how they could contribute to overcome them.

Representing UNAIDS at the Summit, Elhadj Amadou Sy, Deputy Executive Director ad interim, spoke of the importance of the communities’ role in scaling up towards universal access and reaffirmed UNAIDS commitment to support them in their constant and tireless efforts in the AIDS response. Referring to UNAIDS Outcome Framework for 2009-2011, he reiterated UNAIDS commitment to stand by people living and affected by HIV and to enable them to demand change in governance, legislation and policy to support a response that works for them.

Building on their previous advocacy experience in 2005 which led to the G8 commitment made in Gleneagles to move as close as possible to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010, ActionAid is planning to use the Summit’s roadmap to create a new impetus for demanding the right to universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support. At the Summit, ActionAid also launched STAR, a human rights based social mobilization methodology aiming at enabling and empowering communities to protect themselves from HIV infection and to demand their rights to prevention, treatment and care.

By Eric Sawyer, veteran AIDS activists and cofounder of Housing Works.

appeared at a screening of Outrage at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in May 2009.
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew H. Walker

This week, I got the unexpected news that my friend, the legendary AIDS activist Rodger McFarlane had taken his own life. I was in shock and deeply saddened.

Roger was a terrific friend, not only to me as an individual and countless others around the world but a terrific friend to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and HIV communities as well. Rodger was a co-founder of ACT UP New York. He was a mentor to countless activists and employees at numerous AIDS organizations and a critical supporter, both intellectually and financially of advocacy for gay and lesbian and HIV causes. Rodger was a hero!

Rodger was critical to the development of many of the largest and most effective organizations that would lead the fight against AIDS. He started the first AIDS hot line on his own home phone; he was the first executive director of GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (he combined the two organizations). Rodger was also the President of Bailey House and later the executive director of the Gill Foundation.

An accomplished athlete, Rodger had no physical fear and his quick mind made him a brilliant strategic activist; Rodger always could construct a plan to rectify any problem and was able to find the clever media hook to draw public attention to the problem. He never reacted with anger and haste. He preferred a planned response, crafted with a cool hand. He was insightful, never flustered and always had a “we can lick this approach” to overcoming any challenge.

“Tell me what's going on," would be followed by, "That outrageous!" and then, "Here's how we fix this thing." He would then ask "What do you think?" He was always ready to hear suggestions to refine his ideas.

Rodger takes on Guantanamo Bay

When ACT UP and others were fighting to close the HIV detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, I went to Rodger and asked for help planning a high profile press event and civil disobedience action. Again it was: "Tell me what's going on, -that's outrageous!” followed by, “Let's kick their motherf***ing asses!" and, "Here's what we do..."

And here is what he did: Rodger hired young ACT UP member and fledging producer David Binder (now a Tony nominee for “33 Variations”) to produce a rally and press conference at Rockefeller Center near the immigration programs passport office. We managed to get Dennis DeLeon (then the New York City Commissioner of Human Rights), Jessie Jackson, Susan Sarandon and director Jonathan Demme and other high-profile AIDS community members involved in a coalition planning effort, and before we knew it, 40 boldfaced names had been arrested on Fifth Avenue for blocking traffic while demanding medical parole for the sickest and the closing of the camp.

Jessie and Rodger insisted that we all go through the system and stay over night in jail to keep the TV cameras on the issue. They both agreed it would have optimal benefit to keep our issue in the media for as long as possible.

Within a few hours Mayor Dinkins was dispatched to the jail, at US President Clinton's request, to talk Jessie and the rest of us into a quick quiet release. He did not want negative attention about what was becoming an increasing public black eye to his fledgling Presidency.

Jessie was told that the Clinton Administration would look favorably on our demands if we took desk appearance tickets and left jail quickly to turn the press heat off. We were warned that to stay in jail over night would have a less favorable response. Jessie said that David had asked him personally as well, as a good Democrat, to leave with him right away.

We caucused and decided that we were likely to get some of our demands met if we left, ultimately helping the HIV-positive detainees in Guantanamo. We felt that while this war was not over, the battle had been won; we had Bill Clinton dispatching Mayor Dinkins to respond to our actions. We took the desk appearance tickets and left the holding cells. Shortly thereafter all the pregnant women and people with a full-blown AIDS diagnosis were released from the Guantanamo HIV detention camp—the same camp where the terrorist are being held today.

Thank you Rodger, for all you did. Rest peacefully our fearless warrior!

Eric Sawyer is a veteran AIDS activists and cofounder of Housing Works.

By Sophie Dilmitis,
World YWCA, HIV and AIDS Coordinator
and International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW) European Regional Representative.

Lynde Francis (8 November 1947 - 31 March 2009)

Lynde Francis (8 November 1947- 31 March 2009). Lynde’s achievements, especially in HIV and AIDS are too many too mention in this article – what she managed to achieve in a lifetime – some never do in ten lifetimes.

There are some people who leave a mark on you after you have met them and there are some people whose words you hang on to and whose advice you cherish.  Lynde was one such person, not only to me but also to many people around the world. 

Lynde was one of the first women in Zimbabwe to disclose her HIV-positive status and did this to support the people of Zimbabwe. She started an organization called the Centre in her own living room at home and this grew into community based organization that supported thousands of people and was run by and for people living with HIV. The centre and the work she did nationally, regionally and internationally have become her legacy.

Lynde will be remembered and respected around the world for her advocacy and education efforts on all aspects of holistic management of HIV, as well as an advocate for the meaningful involvement of People Living with HIV (MIPA). Lynde was also the Southern African Regional Representative for the International Community of Women living with HIV (ICW) and a founding member of the Pan African Treatment Activists movement (PATAM). She served on the boards of Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN), Cedas Trust, Zimbabwe Activists on HIV and AIDS (ZAHA) and was a member of the regional reference group for the ecumenical HIV and AIDS initiative in Africa (EHEIA). Lynde was part of the Country Coordinating mechanism for Zimbabwe and a founding member of the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV.

Lynde’s achievements, especially in HIV and AIDS are too many too mention in this article – what she managed to achieve in a lifetime – some never do in ten lifetimes. 

Lynde had some wonderful qualities and in so many ways Lynde was a pioneer.  She was a great listener and a healer, a brave advocate, an inspirational teacher, a friend and a mother to so many of us who were diagnosed HIV positive.

I met Lynde over ten years ago at the age of 22. I had just been diagnosed HIV positive and my doctor had very little information on HIV. Life felt overwhelming and it was Lynde that explained to me what HIV was, how it worked and how I could look after my body. Lynde nurtured and invested in me so that I am fortunate enough to be in the position that I am in today. Ten years ago HIV treatment (ARVs) were not that accessible in Zimbabwe and totally unaffordable to almost all. I was confused and was trying to process many different opinions about what I should be doing. It was Lynde’s calm voice that resonated with me in my decisions about how to deal with my life with HIV. It was Lynde that took the time to deal with the rage that consumed me and she did this whilst working with so many others, running an organization and leading national campaigns.

It is with unforgettable gratitude that I reflect and remember on how available she was to me and I wondered if she was like this with everyone that she worked with.  The more I saw of Lynde the more I realised that she was like this with everyone and always gave so much of herself.  With everything she had going on she really cared about people and I knew Lynde would always be there for me.

I learnt many things from Lynde and would like to share the following with you:

1. You life is your responsibility – Lynde once told me and many others, that she had a little box of tricks that she could have used to end her life.  She had created it when she first found out she was positive but she had such a passion for life that it was only ever used a reminder to her that life is worth fighting for and taught many people how to fight for their own lives and to take responsibility for their lives.
2. Lynde had the greatest respect for people and their culture.  She had an incredible ability to empathise with people and put herself in their shoes, no matter how uncomfortable this may have been sometimes. Lynde taught me that it is important to meet people where they are mentally, emotionally and culturally instead of pushing them to meet you.
3. As activists we don’t have to be at every meeting in the world. The world won’t collapse without us. Things do carry on and we can’t be everywhere and do everything. Some people living with HIV have a sense of urgency and this was something that Lynde herself struggled with.

Lynde lived a full life and it is so clear that many people deeply loved Lynde and celebrate all that she was and did.  Like some of us, Lynde may have been afraid sometimes but in all the time that I knew her, I never saw her back away from a challenge. She was open and available to all who needed her and she had a heart of gold.

Lynde we will all miss you. You were so much to all of us and all we can do now is hold onto the memory of your great and powerful spirit and ensure that you live on in all of us whose lives you transformed.  We celebrate your life and all that you gave.

Lynde celebrated 23 years of living with HIV in March this year. She leaves behind a huge family around the world that includes ten grandchildren. We extend our sincere condolences to Lynde’s family and friends. We cry with you as we appreciate her life of service to women and men, especially those living with HIV and her unwavering commitment to young people.

Lynde will remain a beacon of hope for all of us.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé (right) met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Celso Amorim.
Credit: UNAIDS/M. Silva

The upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) meeting in London, the global financial crisis, and universal access were some of the main topics Mr Michel Sidibé and Brazilian Government counterparts discussed during his first official visit to Brazil as the Executive Director of UNAIDS.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé (left) greets Minister of Health of Brazil, Mr José Gomes Temporão.
Credit: UNAIDS/M. Silva

Mr Sidibé met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Celso Amorim, the Minister of Health, Mr José Gomes Temporão, the Minister of Human Rights, Mr Paulo Vanucchi, and the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Ms Nilcéa Freire.

A meeting also took place between Mr Sidibé and the HIV/AIDS Parliamentarian Group, the LGBTT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transvestite) Citizenship Group and the Human Rights Commission. The forum which took place at the National Congress in the capital Brasilia, was an opportunity for lively exchange of ideas and viewpoints on a range of issues at the heart of Brazil’s efforts to respond to the HIV epidemic and address human rights. These issues were also underlined in meetings Mr Sidibé had with the President of the Congress and the Senate President.

Civil society share challenges and barriers in responding to diverse epidemics

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé meets representatives of group Arco-Iris.
Credit: UNAIDS/D. Ramalho

Two separate meetings with civil society groups in Rio de Janeiro provided Mr Sidibé an overview of the challenges facing several populations most affected by HIV, including sex workers, transgenders, gay adolescents and indigenous peoples in the Amazon region.

With ten national representatives of the Brazilian Interdisciplinary Association of AIDS (ABIA), Mr Sidibé was informed of the difficulties in responding to the many faces of Brazil’s epidemics.

HIV prevention was underscored by many representatives as an urgent issue to address, with a lack of resources to reach out to the groups most-at-risk from HIV seen as the biggest hurdle in preventing new infections.

With Grupo Arco-Íris (Rainbow Group), Mr Sidibé heard from several representatives of diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transvestite groups. They explained the concerns and challenges faced by them as LGBTT living in Brazil.

Grupo Arco-Íris is advocating for a change in the law in the federal senate that would make homophobic acts a criminal offence. So far, the group has collected more than 40,000 signatures in support of the law. The group also launched a HIV prevention campaign called “entre garotos” (between boys) that targets gay adolescents between the ages of 16 and 22 through tailored advertising and information displays at cafes, bars, dance halls, and other venues popular with young men who have sex with men.

Mr Sidibé pledged his continuing support to the LGBTT community and encouraged its members to mobilize and rally around efforts to achieve universal access to HIV services in Brazil.