AIDS Action Europe

Thank you for a wonderful year! Wishing you the best for a new year! AIDS Action Europe Read the Highlights of 2024 Newsletter: 👉 https://lnkd.in/d4dAEzVE Register to get all our Newsletters on the footer of our website: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dtSJx3XE

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The Steering Committee of the #Cobatest #Network met in Badalona, Spain, on 16 & 17 December, 2024, on its annual face-to-face meeting. We discussed the strategy for the coming years, the operations of the network, the goals and plans for the next year, and said goodbye to the members of the committee who’s term is coming to an end, in a beautiful setting with a sea-view, thanks to CEEISCAT hosting the meeting and AAE office organising the logistics. The COBATEST Network is a network of more than 150 #CBVCT (Community-based and -let voluntary counseling and testing) centres, organisations, and checkpoints operating in Europe and Central Asia.

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (17 December) • Sex workers are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence at work. • Sex workers of color, migrant sex workers, transgender sex workers experience even greater risk of sexual violence and assault. • Criminalization of sex work contributes to making Sex workers vulnerable • Violence and criminalization continue to increase vulnerability to HIV. • There are very limited options to report the violence, and sex workers are reluctant to go to the police because of potential arrest or further assault. • Because of the stigmatising notion that “sex workers cannot be sexually assault,” sex workers are usually left out of the national conversation around #MeToo. • Sex workers are often ineligible for rape victim compensation funds or received reduced amounts. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dYVwZEYX 👈

Our #Rights, Our #Future, Right #Now! Today, on International Human Rights Day, we reaffirm this year’s theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now!”, which calls for the full promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights for all, without further delay. Stigma, discrimination, gender inequality and human rights violations are major barriers that slow progress towards HIV targets. These barriers further exacerbate vulnerabilities, leaving people living with HIV, other key populations, and other affected communities behind. Human rights and gender equality are the foundations of the Global AIDS Strategy, which recognizes that achieving HIV targets requires addressing inequalities, safeguarding the human rights of people living with HIV and other key populations. The Strategy outlines the 10-10-10 societal targets to be reached by 2025, with its Result Area 5 explicitly emphasizing the commitment to human rights: “People living with HIV, key populations and people at risk of HIV enjoy human rights, equality and dignity, free of stigma and discrimination”. We call on all governments of the world and especially in Europe and Central Asia to walk the talk and without further delay work towards promoting and protecting human rights for all, and drive progress towards ending AIDS by 2030. Our Rights are Our Future, Right Now! AIDS Action Europe #HumanRightsDay #humanrights #equality #equity #HIVAwareness

AIDS Action Europe: a 20-year celebration (2004-2024) AIDS Action Europe is turning 20 this year and we are filled of memories. We are taking a trip down memory lane, together with people who are part of our history, past, present and future; Former Steering committee members, organisations representatives, staff, community members, to remind us all that AIDS Action Europe is ‘the people’. 🎉 Happy Birthday AIDS Action Europe. You are 20 year old already and we are proud of you! 🎂 Special thanks to the following for participating in this video: - Chris Lambrechts, Former AAE Steering Committee Chair - Ton Coenen Former AAE Steering Committee Chair - Lena Grigoryeva, Former AAE Steering Committee Chair - Anke Van Dam, Former AAE Steering Committee Chair - Harry Witzthum Former AAE Steering Committee Chair - Sini Pasanen, Positiiviset HivFinland - Ferenc Bagyinszky, AIDS Action Europe - Martine van der Meulen Former AAE Communications Officer - Koen Block, EATG Board Member - Jordi Casabona Barbara, CEEISCAT - COBATEST Network - Maria Luisa (Lella) Cosmaro, LILA Milano, Italy - Silke Klumb, Deutsche Aidshilfe - Michael Krone, Deutsche Aidshilfe *The video was screened during AAE’s Members Meeting Celebration Event, in #Berlin, on 14th November, 2024. Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/gc3s5Y_8

Register NOW to the Webinar: “HIV Prevention in Europe: From research to implementation to the people” by AIDS Action Europe 🗓 Monday, 09 December 2024 ⏰ 11:00-12:30 CET 🌐 Online on Zoom app 📌 Register now: https://lnkd.in/drrjAPrJ ℹ️ Description of webinar: Join us to explore the #Combination #Prevention pipeline and #Advocacy for availability, access, and affordability – with a focus on #PrEP in #Europe and #Central #Asia. What’s next for #HIV prevention in Europe? 🗣️ Speakers: - Cindra Feuer – Senior Program Manager: Partnerships & Capacity Strengthening, AVAC - Saira George Carballo – Senior Manager for Product Introduction & Access, and Long-Acting PrEP Coalition, AVAC - Catherine Verde Hashim – Program Manager: Product Introduction & Access, AVAC 🎯 Who is this for? Open to all AIDS Action Europe member organisations and friends of AAE 📌 Register now: https://lnkd.in/drrjAPrJ #HIVPrevention #AAEWebinar #CombinationPrevention

AAE European HIV Legal Forum (EHLF-Networking Meting, Romania) On 28 and 29 October 2024, the #European #HIV #Legal #Forum (#EHLF) Networking Meeting took place in Bucharest, #Romania, organised by AIDS Action Europe. This video highlights the meeting, which focused on the criminalisation of HIV transmission and the related social stigma. Discussions covered global recommendations, the situation in Europe and EU member states, and the legal framework in Romania. The meeting also addressed stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV, particularly in healthcare and workplace settings, as well as gaps in legal protections. Key sessions included discussions on U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) and strategies for engaging with the media to challenge stigma. The EHLF Network is an initiative of #AIDS #Action #Europe. Special thanks to Edwin J Bernard, Executive Director of HIV Justice Network. 🎞️ Watch the video on YouTube here: https://lnkd.in/gJBnXpRW

WORLD AIDS DAY 2024 TAKING THE RIGHTS PATH “The world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected.” This year´s World AIDS Day theme highlights the importance of a human rights-based approach in the response and that the protection, respect and fulfilment of everyone´s rights areimperative to end the HIV epidemic. The world has made great progress towards the 95-95-95 testing and treatment targets of the Global AIDS Strategy in the recent years. However, the progress towards the 10-10-10 targets of the strategy – removing societal and legal barriers to HIV services - has been slower and inadequate. Punitive laws and policies are major barriers to achieving the global HIV targets and further fuel stigma and discrimination, and increase inequalities in accessing prevention, testing, and treatment and care services. Furthermore, the rise and strengthening of anti-gender and anti-rights movement not only endangers the hard won rights of people living with HIV and key populations, they further limit or ban the existence of communities and their organisations, who are key through their leadership to end AIDS. TARGET: LESS THAN 10% OF COUNTRIES HAVE PUNITIVE LAWS AND POLICIES There is substantial evidence that punitive laws and policies negatively affect access to HIV services for key populations. Achieving the global HIV targets for ALL requires the elimination of these barriers, which not only hinder access but also fuel stigma and discrimination. TARGET: LESS THAN 10% EXPERIENCE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION HIV prevention, treatment, and care go beyond medical matters—they rely on the realisation of human rights for key populations. Achieving global HIV targets requires embedding principles of equality and non-discrimination into national laws and policies, alongside their effective implementation. TARGET: LESS THAN 10% EXPERIENCE GENDER INEQUALITY AND VIOLENCE The human rights of key populations must be at the core of any HIV response. This requires a strong commitment to eliminate gender-based violence and ensure the protection of the human rights of all affected key populations.

Happy Birthday AIDS Action Europe ! 🎉 You are 20 year old already (2004-2024) 🎂 Watch representatives of member organisations, community members, former and current steering committee members and staff, give AIDS Action Europe their wishes for this important 20th birthday! *The video was screened during AAE's #Members #Meeting #Celebration #Event, in #Berlin, on 14th November, 2024.