GIPA: The Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Sharing APN+’s experiences in approaches that help shaped policies around the Asia

Pacific region

Who we are

• APN+ is a regional partner of the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS

• Started in 1994 with PWAs from 8 countries, the network has grown to include contacts in 22 countries and regions.

• Our Mission is to improve the lives of HIV+ people in the region

• Our priorities are: Access to Treatment and Care; Stigma & Discrimination, and GIPA

What we do

• We work with national partners to help them develop capacity

• We have teamed with 6 other regional networks to work on cross-cutting issues in HIV/AIDS (e.g. gender, migration, etc.)

• We generate regional projects (e.g. Human Rights peer-based action research)

• Act as the collective voice of PWAs in the Asia Pacific region at regional and international fora

How we do it

• GIPA: the meaningful involvement of PWAs at all levels of decision-making

• Raised out profile in the region and have actively sought to include PWAs as individuals or groups into the network

• Engaged international agencies, governments and other stakeholders in constructive dialogues to look at the needs and perspectives of PWAs

Cambodia 2000/2001

• Visit to Phnom Penh in late 2000 after discussions with FHI Bangkok regional office

• Visited NGOs working in the HIV/AIDS field• Visited PWA groups that were supported by

NGOs• Visited hospitals and health facilities• Meetings with government officials

APN+/Cambodia partnership

• May 2001 – exchange visit of PWAs from Cambodia to Chiangmai and Bangkok

• Visited PWA-driven projects, met with TNP+ chairman to discuss issues

• Returned to Phnom Penh and had a de-briefing, sharing their experiences with other PWAs and stakeholders

• June 2001 – strategic planning workshop to create a national network

Advocacy outside Cambodia

• Engage with policy-makers at regional conferences (e.g. 6th ICAAP in Melbourne)

• Engage with Cambodian delegation at ASEAN prepatory meetings to HoG meeting

• Engage with international partners of local Cambodian NGOs (e.g. at 10th International PWA Conference in Trinidad)

Cambodia 2002

• Creation of CPN+ - Cambodian PWA Network

• Profile of PWAs raised – sit at the table of the national Home Based Care network

• CPN+ actively involved in the 2nd Cambodian National Conference on HIV/AIDS, playing a strong advocacy role in access to treatment issues

International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies s