Europe
Manifestation des associations, conférence de Dublin Fév. 2004
Action de réduction des risques auprès des usagers de drogues par l'association ARAS en Roumanie
conférence de presse des partenaires de INTEGRATION au Parlement Européen © Service Media du Parlement Européen
Logo des projets INTEGRATION de AIDES Europe

The HIV epidemic keeps growing on our European continent. In comparison to previous years, the number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection has continued to increase in 2005 (source: EuroHIV – www.eurohiv.org). The situation is most alarming in several Eastern European countries that have been affected by a wide-scale epidemic which concerns primarily injecting drug users.

HIV/AIDS challenges in Europe

 

According to UNAIDS (www.unaids.org), the total number of People Living with HIV/AIDS is now 1.7 million for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and 700.000 for Western Europe.  Some countries in the region, notably in Central Europe thankfully still have a relatively low prevalence of HIV – but this will last only if the best prevention and harm-reduction practices are implemented and streamlined

 

In this context, the promises made at the European and International levels must urgently be kept:
  • The G8 countries notably committed to achieve  universal access to HIV/AIDS treatments for People Living with HIV/AIDS by 2010 (reference)
  • European governments have established in Dublin in February 2004 an ambitious plan to respond to HIV/AIDS in Europe and in Central Asia.  This European initiative complements the commitments made by the General Assembly of the United Nations (in 2001 and in 2006).

The INTEGRATION Projects : 
to support local NGO mobilisation on HIV/AIDS in Central and Eastern Europe

The INTEGRATION projects started in 2001 and today bring together Central and Eastern European HIV/AIDS NGOs, three established European organisations (AIDS ACTION EUROPE,CEE-HRN and EATG) and are coordinated by AIDES in France.

Local NGOs that are founded upon the mobilisation of People Living with HIV/AIDS and their advocates have an essential role to play in the fight against AIDS because they are the best able to work with the people that are most vulnerable with regards to HIV/AIDS.  This fundamental role deserves to be far more acknowledged by European governments and international institutions.

Since 2001, we have strengthened the activities carried out by HIV/AIDS NGOs in the region through the following:
  • 6 European thematic seminars as wee as numerous inter-country internships.  The themes covered include notably Harm Reduction among injecting drug users, anti-HIV treatments, the specific situation of women, good management practices for HIV/AIDS NGOs…
  • research about the situation in 8 countries in the region.
  • surveys about the situation and the needs of people who use drugs in Estonia and in Romania.
  • ongoing advocacy work – to raise awareness about the situation in the region.  This includes the production of the film "Breaking the Curve:  fighting ADS in Estonia and in Russia". Also, AIDES and several of our partners of the INTEGRATION projects are members of the Civil Society Forum on HIV/AIDS in Europe, a consultative mechanism set up by the European Commission.

The INTEGRATION projects are funded primarily by the European Commission as well as by the Oen Society Institute, the Fondation de France and AIDES's donors.

More info (in English) as well as the updated contact information for our partners is available on:  www.integration-projects.org
AIDES also works closely with the following European networks:
  • AIDS ACTION EUROPE:  the pan-european NGO partnership on HIV/AIDS  (www.aidsactioneurope.org)  .  AIDS ACTION EUROPE is the regional partner for the European region of ICASO, the International Council of AIDS Services Organisations (www.icaso.org).
  • AIDS and Mobility: a network about HIV/AIDS prevention and care for mobile and migrant populations in Europe.  (www.aidsmobility.org)
  • CEE-HRN:  The Central and Eastern European Harm Reduction Network. www.ceehrn.org
  • EATG:   The European AIDS Treatment Group. www.eatg.org
  • EPHA:  The European Public Health Alliance. www.epha.org