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AIDS ACTION & INTEGRATION Update – November 05. Arnaud WASSON-SIMON - AIDES. Objective: to support the development of local, community-based prevention and support for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in the new and future member states of the European Union.
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AIDS ACTION & INTEGRATION Update – November 05 Arnaud WASSON-SIMON - AIDES
Objective: to support the development of local, community-based prevention and support for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in the new and future member states of the European Union.
Key facts: AIDS ACTION & INTEGRATION 05-08 Expansion from the 1st phase of the Integration Projects (2001-2004) New partners : CEE-HRN, EATG, AIDS ACTION EUROPE (SoaAids), & AIDS Foundation Robert (Slovenia) Ongoing Partners: AIDES (France) , ARAS (Romania) , DIA+LOGS (Latvia) , BADZ Z NAMI (Poland) , AIDS Help Society (Czech Rep.) Another 17 organisations involved as “Friends of the AAI Projects”. Coordination by AIDES (Arnaud Wasson-Simon) with European Coordination team: Ruta KAUPE (DIA+LOGS, Latvia), Raminta STUIKYTE (CEEHRN, Lithuania), Nikos DEDES (EATG, Greece), & Nicoleta DASCALU (ARAS, Romania / on behalf of AAE).
From February 2005 to February 2008, we committed to : • Organise 9 Best Practices SeminarsTaking place primarily in new and future EU member states. • - 10 country-assessment missions • Inter-country internships (26 beneficiaries) and training sessions. • Communications (Newsletter and more) by ARAS. • Total Cost: Approx 1.2 M. EurosFunding: Primarily EC - DG SANCO (70% or 837 390,00 €)Co-funders so far : AIDES, OSI/IHRD, Fondation de France, GSK/Positive Action (via AAE), French Embassies, Polish AIDS Agency of Poland…
Shared methodologies established : • Clear administrative/financial guidelines set (between AIDES and our main partners) • Guidelines for the country missions and country reports • Advices « HOW TO ORGANISE A SUCCESSFUL EUROPEAN SEMINAR » (by ARAS) • Internal Evaluation: strategy and tools (by Ruta KAUPE, DIA-LOGS). EC DG SANCO remains a challenging funder…but is improving ! - very welcome autorisation to involve « non-EU Europeans » (esp. Eastern Europe & Western Balkan / possibly Central Asia) in our activities.
Country missions (in 05) SLOVENIA (done in June): by C. ILIUTA (ARAS, Romania) and A. WASSON-SIMON (AIDES, France) - Low HIV prevalence- Impressive and sustained Harm Reduction services for IDUS- Overall accessible quality healthcare (including updated ARVs) BUT: Local Civil Society (including AIDS Foundation Robert) facing severe difficulties – due (in part) to entry into EU…and lack of domestic support- need for prevention and support services for vulnerable communities (other than IDUS) – especially for Gay Men. BULGARIA: October 2005 (by S. KONOV, EATG and GEORGESCU, ARAS) TURKEY: October 2005 (by by GOETZ, AIDES)
Best Practice Seminars (1 of 9 !) Women: facing HIV in our wider EuropePromoting community-based approachesParis, France - October 6-8, 2005 Really European Preparation team ! 180 candidacies received… for 23 scholarships (total 50 Participants) Shared Priorities=> Support for grassroots prevention & support for women => Research – women-initiated prevention / microbicides => Streamlining quality medical and social practices
Best Practice Seminars (2 of 9) “SUSTAINABLE SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS” BUCHAREST, ROMANIA, 10 – 13th NOVEMBER 2005 • - European seminar integrated in ARAS ongoing national advocacy • Ambitious programme jointly designed by representatives from ARAS, CEE-HRN, OSI/IHRD • - great group of participants !
Other Key Events • IHRA Conference Vancouver – April 2006 • SEEAnet Vanguard Belgrade May 17-20. 2006: • World AIDS Conference - Toronto August 13-18, 2005. • AIDS and Mobility Conference September 2006 (Netherlands)
Food for thought: • Many local HIV/AIDS NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe do amazing work which deserves to be far more acknowledged by their governments. • Paradoxically, joining the EU meant less support for local civil society. Can’t the EU Structural Funds fix that ?
Congratulations to ARAS ! & THANK YOU !