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Discrimination of PLHIV in healthcare settings

We are happy to share with you two reports on discrimination against people living with HIV in healthcare settings: 11-country comparative legal report focusing on discrimination against PLHIV in healthcare settings as patients and 6-country comparative legal report on discrimination against PLHIV working in healthcare settings. The reports were developed in the framework of the European HIV Legal Forum, a project of AIDS Action Europe, where surveys were conducted in European and Central Asian countries to benchmark legislation and policies on discrimination and limitation of PLHIV when it comes to healthcare settings. Read the report "Discrimination against PLHIV in Healthcare Settings" Read the report "Discrimination against PLHIV working in healthcare settings" Globally, since the beginning of the AIDS pandemic, there have only been a handful of cases registered where transmission of HIV from healthcare workers to patients has occurred. Data show that the risk of HIV transmission in healthcare settings is negligible. The widespread application of universal precautions has reduced transmission risk even further, such that unintentional transmission in healthcare settings is now virtually impossible, and occupational health services play a significant role in ensuring that PLHIV can be employed safely in healthcare roles. Thus, measures, recommendations, or regulations that result in the disclosure of a healthcare worker’s HIV status are of no benefit to patients but carry a high risk of discrimination for PLHIV in the healthcare sector. The healthcare sector represents an area where people living with HIV are very vulnerable, as they usually have to disclose their HIV-status to their healthcare providers. It could be argued that, of all people, healthcare providers should be able to process this information with respect and confidentiality and refrain from any discrimination. However, in our research, numerous cases were identified where, in practice, people living with HIV were refused treatment, harassed by staff, or had their rights breached. Policy brief on discrimination in the healthcare sector against employees and patients living with HIV This policy brief on discrimination in the healthcare sector against employees and patients living with HIV is based on the findings of both reports and is available in English and Russian. This policy brief gives an overview of the main findings and provides legal and practical recommendations on how to improve the situation of PLHIV in healthcare settings. Read the Policy Brief in English  Read the Policy Brief in Russian  

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New SC Member Julia Godunova from Russia

Julia took the chance to share with us how she started in the HIV prevention field and how she became the director of EVA Association in Russia.  Welcome Julia! "I started to work in the central part of Russia, in Orel, at Phoenix PLUS. I remember my first project in 2006, which focused only on women living with HIV. It was a very complex application, writing and coordinating it with partners…
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For Respectful Burials of People living with HIV in the Republic of Serbia

In the end of 2019, USOP (Union of organisations of people living with HIV and AIDS in Serbia), an AAE member organisation, asked for our support to stop the disrespectful treatment of the remains of people with HIV in their country. USOP pointed out that people with HIV who passed away were buried without their clothes in black plastic bags. In a letter (see below) to the Serbian Minister of…

Empowerment of women living with HIV in EECA Region - regional conference

52% of women from the EECA region experienced physical abuse after being diagnosed with HIV. These data were presented as part of a 2019 study of the issue of violence against women living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia by the Eurasian Women's Network on AIDS. Women usually find out about their status earlier, which increases their risks for violence in their immediate surrounding,…
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High Time to Listen to the Voices of the Communities

Ferenc Bagyinszky, the Project Manager of AIDS Action Europe, participated as NGO Observer at the 45th meeting of the #UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board #PCB45, which took place on December 10-12 in Geneva. We would like to call your attention to his intervention made under to the agenda point: Report by the NGO Representative "If it is to be truly universal. Why universal health coverage will…
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Communities at the core and forefront of the HIV response

On this World AIDS Day – themed “Communities make the difference” – AIDS Action Europe proudly announces its support to HIV 2020: Community Reclaiming the Global Response conference, taking place in Mexico City on July 5-7, 2020. In 2018, after the announcement of the next International AIDS Society Conference taking place in San Francisco/Oakland in 2020, an alliance of global, regional and…
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Criminalisation of HIV in Europe: preliminary findings

The European HIV Legal Forum (EHLF) is a project of AIDS Action Europe, the goal of which is to develop effective means of improving access to HIV services for all those who have limited access to HIV services due to legal obstacles, through the united efforts of legal and policy experts with the aim of bringing into effect a rights-based approach to health as adopted by the European Commission…
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Policymakers called to prioritise quality of life of PLHIV on political agenda

HIV Outcomes launched today a Call to Action urging European policymakers to ensure that long-term health outcomes and the quality of life of people with HIV are high on the political agenda. At a roundtable event in the European Parliament, Members of European Parliament, the European Commission, European experts, patients and clinicians discuss key findings from a new report, which highlights…

Call to join the AAE Steering Committee

Are you involved in an HIV/AIDS related NGO or community group? Is your organisation a member or partner of AIDS Action Europe? Are you motivated to work towards a more effective response to the HIV, TB and viral hepatitis epidemics in Europe and Central Asia? If so, apply now! We currently have 3 vacancies in our Steering Committee for a 3-year term of 2020 – 2022, starting on 1. Jan 2020…

Alternative ways of ensuring access to drugs and medicines

DNDi or Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative celebrates its 15th birthday this year. This initiative is one of the unique examples of non-for-profit alternative models for research and development (R&D) of a new drugs. This initiative works to ensure that populations that are left behind will have access to live-saving medications. Its story started in 2003 after Medicines Sans Frontiers (…
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Science vs. HIV Criminalisation. AAE Member and Partner Meeting 2019

Criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission – one could think that this is not an issue anymore. The contrary is true: It is a growing phenomenon in our region that has direct and deep impact on human rights. This is why the AIDS Action Europe Steering Committee decided to take the topic up in its 2019 Member and Partner Meeting and combine it with partner notification and…
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Overcoming obstacles to access to PrEP in Europe

The 2nd European PrEP Summit took place in Warsaw, Poland from October 10-12. More than 200 activists, PrEP users, civil society, academia and doctors have gathered from all over Europe and Central Asia to discuss the current state, challenges and opportunities of PrEP use. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis, or shortly PrEP, is a very effective method of preventing HIV infections, it´s uptake…
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Keeping HIV/AIDS activist engagement accessible

How are politics and life narratives in the fields of HIV/AIDS activism in Europe entangled? – This was not an easy leading question of the EUROPACH Closing Conference “Living Politics: Remembering HIV/AIDS Activism Tomorrow”. AAE, as associated partner of the European research project EUROPACH, participated at its closing conference, which took place in Berlin, Germany on September 12, and 13.…
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AIDS Action Europe welcomes Winnie Byanyima as the new Executive Director of UNAIDS

AIDS Action Europe welcomes the decision of the UN Secretary General to appoint Winnie Byanyima as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). We acknowledge the important milestone decision of appointing the first woman as the leader of UNAIDS, however, we are also concerned regarding the potential strategic priorities of Ms Byanyima and concerns…
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Free access to PrEP in Germany

As of September 1, 2019, people in Germany from the age of 16 with a substantial HIV risk can get PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) for free, covered by the statutory health insurance. This is an exciting development in a country, where only two years ago PrEP was still discussed quite controversially not to mention the possibility that PrEP could be covered by health insurance. It took the…
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Are you ready for Quality Improvement?

On July 11-12 AAE conducted its Quality Improvement (QI) Workshop on Combination Prevention and Chemsex Interventions. Altogether 13 representatives of 12 member and partner organisations were trained on how to select and use one or more of the tools to improve and measure quality and impact of their interventions and projects that were developed in the Quality Action Joint Action. The…
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Training Materials for Community Health Worker addressing gay men and other MSM are available online!

The training material toolbox curriculum for training Community Health Workers (CHW) working with gay men and other MSM was developed in the frame of the EU-funded ESTICOM project (www.esticom.eu). The project aimed at improving access and the quality of prevention, diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, STI and viral hepatitis and health care services for gay men and other MSM. The Project became an important…

#TheUNAIDSWeNeed: Nothing about us without us!

AIDS Action Europe participated at the Special Session of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), the governing body of UNAIDS, which usually meets twice a year to overlook the work of the UN Joint Programme on AIDS.The special session of the UNAIDS PCB was called together to follow up on the situation of sexual harassment and abuse of power within the UNAIDS Secretariat. Two agenda points…
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#TheUNAIDSWeNeed: Special session on response to harassment and abuse of power at UNAIDS Secretariat

AIDS Action Europe participated at the Special Session of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), the governing body of UNAIDS, which usually meets twice a year to overlook the work of the UN Joint Programme on AIDS.The special session of the UNAIDS PCB was called together to follow up on the situation of sexual harassment and abuse of power within the UNAIDS Secretariat. Two agenda points…
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Making resources available to sustain HIV Prevention Programmes during and after GF Transition in UA

Ukraine has the second largest HIV epidemic in the WHO European region. The country also has a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The region of the armed conflict in the Eastern part of Ukraine (UA) lacks provision of health services. 240.000 people live with HIV (PLHIV) in UA, with an HIV prevalence of 0,9% (ages 15-49)[1]. The number of people who know their HIV status…
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Not worth worrying, you will always get support and your questions answered

Yaroslav Bliakharskyi (Ярослав Бляхарский) about his time on the Steering Committee of AIDS Action Europe (AAE). Yaroslav, our Steering Committee (SC) member, who represents All-Ukrainian network of people living with HIV/AIDS – 100% LIFE, is leaving our SC next year. In our interview with Yaroslav, he talks about his experience being an AAE Steering Committee member. Furthermore, he stresses…

“One case of harassment, one case of misconduct of power is too many. We are striving to get to zero”

“One case of harassment, one case of misconduct of power is too many. We are striving to get to zero” This was the statement of Gunila Carlsson, deputy executive director during the Special Session of UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB)[1]. AIDS Action Europe participated in this meeting because we think that only a strong organization that is willing to counteract any kind of sexual…
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Call for applications for UNAIDS Executive Director Position is Now Open!

The call for the vacancy of UNAIDS Executive Director is now open. Learn more about the details and the competencies required for the position, as well as the process for submitting applications please read the in English and in French.  Deadline for the applications is May 17. Please share this information among your parterns and networks and encourage potential candidates to consider applying…
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Chechnya: They are hunting and killing us again

Just a few days ago, Russian LGBT Network stated again about the arrest and attacks of at least 40 people being LGBT. Since the first anti-gay purge in Chechnya, the network reports, around 150 people out of region were relocated and around 130 people found sanctuary out of Russia. Today, we like to follow the appeal of Igor Kochetkov (Russian LGBT Network) and ask you to call on global leaders…
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Harm reduction interventions need better funding mechanisms

PRESS RELEASE Harm reduction services need sustainable funding mechanisms to improve testing and linkage to care for people who use drugs Last week, the three-year European Union (EU) Joint Action on HIV and Co-infection Prevention and Harm Reduction (HA-REACT) has come to its end. HA-REACT had 22 partners, representing 18 EU Member States, with additional expertise provided by 14…
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Community-led approaches are key in the response to HIV, TB and viral hepatitis

This time it was Bucharest, the capital of Romania that hosted the HepHIV Conference 2019. Romania holds the EU presidency in the first half of 2019, and faces challenges in responding to the HIV, TB and viral hepatitis epidemics, in particular when it comes to addressing and including key populations in the response. In this sense, Bucharest was a good choice since the speakers could voice their…
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New Guideline on population size estimates of PWID

The sole objective of this guideline is to summarize and educate about highly useful concepts for scaling up harm reduction in any country. Estimates of the prevalence of drug use and its consequences have a major influence on many public policies. Estimating prevalence is especially important for forecasting the health needs and costs of the drug user group and for evaluating the coverage and…
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European Commission supports Harm Reduction for PWID. Does Your Country?

By Jeffrey Lazarus, #HAREACT We know what works. Opioid substitution therapy in prisons, safe needles in the streets, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for anyone who’s infected. No, what we need to eliminate hepatitis C isn’t more interventions. What we need is the political will to implement what works. What we need to eliminate hepatitis C isn’t more interventions. What we need is the…

AAE at the NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS PCB 2016-2018

AIDS Action Europe held the seat of Europe NGO Delegate on the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS from 2016-2018. Our colleague, Ferenc Bagyinszky, represented AAE on the NGO Delegation: “My 3 years with the NGO Delegation was one of the most rewarding and challenging period of my life. It was not only the steepest learning curve in the field of global HIV politics but also gave me an…
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Statement of the NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS PCB on release of the Independent Expert Panel's report on harassment

The NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS PCB Calls for the Immediate Release of the Independent Expert Panel’s (IEP) Report December 6, 2018 At the 42nd UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board (PCB) meeting in June 2018, the PCB agreed to establish an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) to coordinate and complete a comprehensive review/audit on prevention of and response to harassment, including sexual harassment…

Support the petition "AIDS: one minute to act, sign!"

Before the Global Fund Replenishment Conference which will take place in October 2019 in France and is aimed to raise new funds to end AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030, AIDES together with other partner organisations launched a petition aimed at heads of states and governments calling to support the Global Fund. You can support the petition via the following link:    https://www.change.org/p/sida-…

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