Global Partners Forum on Children to address communities' role in effective HIV responses

News from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and invitation for interviews with community representative Reji Chandra

8 February 2006: for immediate release

Increases in resources are often failing to reach communities and community based organisations – the very people with the greatest potential to improve services and support for children affected by HIV and AIDS. This is one of the key issues to be discussed at the Global Partners Forum on Children Affected by HIV and AIDS – a high level meeting of United Nations agencies, multi and bi-lateral donors, national governments from the South, and civil society, which will discuss universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care. The meeting is being held in London on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February.

Reji Chandra, director of Palmyrah Workers Development Society – one of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance’s lead partners working in India – will be addressing the forum and bringing the perspective of communities responding to the epidemic. He will explore why the role of communities in assisting and protecting children affected by HIV and AIDS is both essential and under-supported, and try to reach agreement on ways to strengthen community mobilisation efforts.

“Community mobilisation is an empowering process,” says Regi. “It’s about organising people and strengthening their capacity to manage issues that affect their lives. This is a sustainable process for improving community capacity and generating community responses, especially for an issue such as children affected by HIV and AIDS. The process also has the potential to strengthen and lead the community beyond HIV and AIDS.”

For interviews with Regi Chandra, please contact Simon Moore at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance on 01273 718744 or Rhian Evans on 01273 718961.

A press briefing on the Global Partners Forum will be held at Lancaster House, Long Gallery, Stable Yard, St James’, London at 8.30am on Thursday 9th February. For more information, please contact David Lesley at DFID press office on 020 7023 0600.

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Editor’s notes

  1. The Alliance is part of the organising committee for the Global Partners Forum on Children Affected by HIV and AIDS, and was involved in the consultation exercise carried out before the meeting.
  2. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, established in 1993, is Europe’s largest organisation focused on HIV/AIDS and international development. It works through an alliance of linking organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe to mobilize and strengthen community action on HIV and AIDS. The Alliance provides technical and financial support to civil society and other organisations that support the communities most affected by HIV/AIDS. The Alliance has worked with community organisations from over 40 countries, provided financial support to over 3,000 projects (implemented by over 2,000 community and faith-based groups). Expenditure in 2005 alone is expected to have reached approximately USD 45 million.
  3. For more information about the work of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and to arrange interviews, please contact Simon Moore. T: 01273 718744. E: smoore@aidsalliance.org or Rhian Evans. T: 01273 718961. E: revans@aidsalliance.org