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European Action on HIV/AIDS Ton Coenen. The platforms of NGO’s in Latvia – the bridge to European Union ***** Riga 20th April 2006. AIDS Action Europe. Pan European partnership of NGOs working towards more effective response to HIV and AIDS epidemics. . AIDS Action Europe.
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European Action on HIV/AIDSTon Coenen The platforms of NGO’s in Latvia – the bridge to European Union ***** Riga 20th April 2006
AIDS Action Europe • Pan European partnership of NGOs working towards more effective response to HIV and AIDS epidemics.
AIDS Action Europe NGOs working together: • European advocacy • Evidence based practice & standards • Linking & learning • Western office in Amsterdam • Eastern office in Vilnius • www.aidsactioneurope.org
Why a network ? • The growing HIV-epidemic in Europe • Many Aids NGO’s but no cooperation • Expanding EU with different backgrounds in countries • A lot of experience • Many islands of knowledge • No strong EU-role on HIV/Aids
HIV infections newly diagnosed: cases reported in 2002 per million population WHO European Region HIV cases per million 25 200 + 100 - 199 20 - 99 25 45 < 20 33 351 661 94 49 Not available 227 101 74* 108 43 91 23 15 32 74 5 2 105 180 49 38 8 11 4 256 9 15 2 0 6 NA 37 18 6 13 2 11 Update at 31 December 2002 38 3 31 53 EuroHIV Data reported by 31 December 2002 * Netherlands: new system, data for 1st 6 months of 2002 only; include many cases diagnosed in previous years
The start • Create a movement: Open Forum • Have an agenda: priorities and stakeholders • Steering group • Action! ?!?!
Influence on EU • Huge problem • EU-commissioner devoted • Recognition that EU-policy is needed • Comparative advantage:* EU-staff small* We have knowledge/experience they don’t have* EU needs support from the ground • We’re in it together! EU is not an enemy….
EU-collaboration • Beat them with their own words: declarations • Use political momentum: Vilnius-declaration • Offer them support – don’t be a burden • Be EU-wide • Try to get a place in their system • When you’re in: expand
Think Tank on HIV/AIDS • Governmental advisory body Commission • AIDS Action Europe & EATG 6 seats • Input in topics on European agenda
Civil Society Forum HIV/AIDS • Advisory body Commission • Co-chairs AIDS Action Europe & EATG • Action plan, human rights, IDUs
European advocacy • Communication Commission to Council & Parliament to combat HIV/AIDS in EU & neighbours: 2006-2009
Commission Communication • Involvement civil society • Partnership with private sector • Surveillance • Prevention new infections • Voluntary testing & counselling • Research • Neighbourhood • Action Plan • Budget allocation??
Stick to your strength! • Stay practice based • Use EU-programs • Try double binding: policy & financial relation • Show them it helps • It’s not the system that’s te goal • It’s the people that count!
Not only success…… • Hard to get people spending precious time • EU-system is very complicated & hard to enter • Relationships take a while and are personally linked • Member states not bound by Communication • No budget for implementation action plan • For EU-budget you need money • Funding gap NGOs in new member states
Together we can! • The EU belongs to all of us • The EU still needs building • The Future counts