Abstract Book Vol. 1 [International Conference on AIDS (16th: 2006: Toronto, Canada)]

mobilization and research literacy efforts within the country. They can also
facilitate development of policies and guidelines that can move the NPT research
agenda forward as critical elements of the process.
Recommendations: Community advocates should be more active in policy
and guideline development process - efforts that can fast tract the national NPT
research and development efforts
TUPEO989
Positive learning: a collaborative framework for
'AIDS activists' and 'education activists' in the
Asia-Pacific
D. Duangsal, U. Duongsaa2, Positive Learning Working Group (PLWG). 'AIDS
Education Programme, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai, Thailand,
2Constellation for AIDS Competence, Chiangmai, Thailand
Issues: There are gaps between the AIDS activists and education activists,
as each sector has not reached out beyond their own fields to draw in other
significant actors to support their advocacy.
Description: A group of AIDS activists and education activists in the AsiaPacific Region met 3 times during August 2005-January 2006 to share their
experiences on addressing HIV/AIDS and education in the region. After
developing a common vision of "The world free of AIDS", they conducted an
AIDS Competence self-assessment for the region, and agreed that much had
to be done to realize the vision. They examined the HIV/AIDS and education
links and discovered many areas for synergy such as health literacy, reducing
stigma through education and fostering acceptance of differences, intensifying
HIV/AIDS education in the Global Campaign on Education and the Education
for All campaign, and including more education and learning components in
the World AIDS Campaign. They decided to form the Positive Learning Working
Group (PLWG) whose objectives are to learn to integrate HIV/AIDS work and
education work, and to promote and strengthen such initiatives from country
to national and regional levels. The PLWG serves as an advocacy group that
facilitates capacity building that contributes to integrated learning, campaigns
and policy advocacy. The scope of its work is regional but working in-country
with national level policy. Issues of stigma will be addressed in all activities.
Lessons learned: The HIV/AIDS sector and the education sector have different
strengths and lessons learned from years of capacity building, campaigning,
and policy advocacy. Working together, they can combine these strengths and
lessons learned in order to strengthen each other and improve the odds for
success.
Recommendations: More efforts should be made by AIDS activists to
collaborate with partners in the education and other sectors to promote an
AIDS-competent world. Such efforts should be duely supported.
TUPE0990
Russia's success story: cross-sector partnerships for
HIV/AIDS policy development & advocacy
S. Votyagov. Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS (TPAA), Policy and
Leadership Program, Moscow, Russian Federation
Issues: Russia's budget for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment is slated to
increase to $3 billion rubles in 2006, a nearly 20-fold increase over 2005. This
significant shift is the product of a growing national response to HIV/AIDS in
Russia, spurred, in part, by work of the Russian Parliamentary Working Group
on AIDS. This cross-sector partnership empowers legislators to engage civil
society in a constructive dialogue on HIV/AIDS policy, and develop and sustain
new international partnerships against AIDS.
Description: The Russian Parliamentary Working Group on AIDS (PWG) is a
coalition of State Duma deputies, representing various legislative committees
and political parties, working to strengthen HIV/AIDS strategy, expand publicprivate partnerships, improve HIV/AIDS legislation and funding, and promote
collaboration between Russian and international organizations. PWG serves as
a bridge to other sectors, including business, media, the scientific community,
and people living with HIV/AIDS. It has developed as an essential tool for
comprehensive policy dialogue in Russia, safeguarding the interests of various
sectors and communities, including vulnerable groups. PWG has also emerged
as an international model for effective partnership on HIV/AIDS.
Lessons learned: Advocacy efforts have raised HIV/AIDS awareness among
Russian parliamentarians, resulting in breakthrough policy initiatives including,
most notably: a review of national HIV/AIDS policies at a meeting of Russian
State Council, chaired by President Putin; and a joint initiative with the UK AllParty Parliamentary Group on AIDS to focus the attention of parliamentarians
from the G8, China, India and CIS on the growing challenges presented by
HIV/AIDS.
Recommendations: As Russia chairs the G8 and scales up its national
response to HIV/AIDS, it will have the opportunity to play a leading role in
the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The Russian Parliamentary Working Group
on AIDS will also take center stage as a flourishing model for cross-sector
partnership in HIV/AIDS policy development and advocacy.

TUPE0991
Achieving success by being peer-led and by
integrating prevention,care and support-lessons
learnt from Namakkal, India
M.J. Augustine', M.K. Periasamy2', P. Raja'3. 1Positive Women Network, Women
and Children, Chennai, India, 'Positive Women Network, Board Member,
Chennai, India, 3HIV Ullor Nala Sangam, Feild Officer, Namakkal, India
Issues: Stigma attached to HIV has resulted in severe state of discrimination
on people affected by the epidemic. Worse is its impact on children who are
often confounded at the reactions expressed or exhibited by people within the
family or society due to HIV status. Their needs are also suppressed due to fear
of discrimination and access is greatly affected. The need for peer led was felt
as an essential strategy in addressing the needs of children in implementation
of a comprehensive programme.
Description: Positive living project, implemented in one of the high prevalence
setting Namakkal used the strategy of peer led initiative. This programme is
implemented by HIV positive people network and function through Positive
living centers that are located within the community reach. The services
administered through these centers cater to psychological health and social
needs for adults and children. Support from various stakeholders has also been
facilitated through sensitization and advocacy initiatives. In addition Specific
direct services like nutrition and educational support has encouraged more
children to access the centers.
Lessons learned: The paper presents some of the key achievements that
this programme has achieved in addressing the complicated issues affecting
children. Being a peer-led initiative children infected and affected could be
reached easily. Out of over 800 affected and infected children 200 children
between the age group of 12 and 14 years have been empowered through
life skills education programme, specially focusing on reproductive health and
safeguarding themselves from vulnerable conditions. Things to ensure while
working with children and experiences of how this model destigmatizes the
epidemic in community are shared in the presentation.
Recommendations: Acknowledging the peer-led model internationally and
replicating it will help support more children affected by the epidemic. Networks
of people living with HIV should be built capacity to execute this model in their
contexts.
TUPE0992
Growth of the Caribbean regional network of people
living with HIV/AIDS
C. Williams-Mitchell', Y. Simon', P. St. Bernardi, R. Dambo3, C. Griffith3,
M. Blackett3. 'Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV/
AIDS, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago,
2Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Office of the
Chief Executive Officer, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 3Caribbean
Regional Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Programme Unit, Port of
Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Issues: In the Caribbean region Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are
faced with negative attitudes which include stigma and discrimination. This,
coupled with little or no access to quality health care as well as no social
support, continues to have a severe impact on PLWHA. Therefore, the quality
of life of PLWHA is affected in many ways. To address the issues created by
fear, ignorance, lack of information and education the first regional network
of PLWHA was created by PLWHA. The Caribbean Regional Network of People
Living with HIV/AIDS (CRN+) emerged on 28th September 1996 with its
Secretariat in Trinidad and Tobago and with a mission to empower and support
persons infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS through access to information
exchange, lobbying, capacity building, and the greater involvement of PLWHA
in the wider Caribbean. Through its raison d'etre - Advocacy - this has been the
key to the rapid growth and development of the organisation.
Description: Over the years CRN+ has vigorously charted and pursued the
way forward through its advocacy and resource mobilisation strategies. The
results have been: increased donor support, formation and sustainability of
several national PLWHA networks, and the catalyst for the creation of numerous
support groups throughout the region. CRN+ has focused on the growth of its
networks by providing skills training and capacity building in key areas which
include leadership development and advocacy.
Lessons learned: This presentation will assess the impact of the strategic
planning and harmonisation processes on the growth of the CRN+ network,
which has resulted in CRN+ having the distinction of being the first civil society
organisation in the world to be awarded a Global Fund grant.
Recommendations: The presentation will provide insight into the process of
growth and expansion of CRN+ that can be used as a best practice model by
other civil society organisation.
TUPE0993

A cost effective, innovative approach to leadership
development: virtual pathways to real HIV AIDS
organizational results
S. Johnson', S. Vriesendorp2, F. Nauseda2, L. de la Peza2,
K. Sherk2. 'Management Sciences for Health, Leadership, Management and
Sustainability Program, Cambridge, United States, 2Management Sciences for
Health, Cambridge, United States
Issues: In the context of the AIDS pandemic there is an enormous need
for trained and experienced managers and leaders working throughout the

Tuesday
15 August
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XVI INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE * 13-18 AUGUST 2006 * TORONTO CANADA * ABSTRACT BOOK VOLUME 1