Zero Discrimination by the year 2015

WINDHOEK – Namibian parliamentarians, lawmakers from some SADC countries and representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) are set to meet in Windhoek on 3 February 2011 to discuss how an initiative to advocate for improved HIV prevention in the SADC region can be taken forward.

In July 2009, lawmakers and representatives of CSOs from all over SADC met in South Africa and agreed on the urgent need to turn off the tap of new HIV infections in southern Africa, which hosts approximately two in five of all people living with HIV all over the world. This was the birth of an initiative that is now known as the ’50 by 2015′ HIV Prevention Movement, which is meant to reduce the number of new infections by 50 percent by the year 2015.

At the end of the 2009 meeting, the lawmakers and representatives of CSOs agreed on 10 things:

– The SADC region cannot develop in the face of HIV/AIDS;
– Prevention/turning off the tap of new infections is critical;
– Achieving ’50 by 2015′ is a minimum requirement to roll back the epidemic;
– Total elimination of mother-to-child transmission is essential by 2015;
– Certain populations are more vulnerable than others;
– Mass mobilisation is needed to create urgency;
– Dynamic and committed leadership is required;
– Knowledge of (local) epidemics is important in tailoring responses;
– Monitoring and evaluation are important; and
– All responses (to the epidemic) should respect human rights.

In January 2010, the two parties met again to review progress made since they resolved to join hands in this landmark initiative. Discussions then revolved around rallying the support and involvement of parliamentarians and civil society organisations in the prevention movement; capacitating the two parties to revise budget allocations to support prevention initiatives; consolidating the growing ties between civil society organisations and parliamentarians; spelling out accountability and monitoring mechanisms with respect to set goals; and supporting the adoption of a common position on set targets as well as reporting mechanisms.

According to UNAIDS and other credible sources, Southern Africa remains the epicentre of the epidemic and women and young girls continue to bear its brunt.

Multiple concurrent sexual partnerships; inter-generational sex; low condom use and low male circumcision have been cited among drivers of the epidemic alongside gender-based violence, untreated sexually transmitted diseases and stigma. HIV testing and early introduction of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) were increasingly being advocated as a strategy to keep people living with HIV alive.

Expectations are that the planned meeting will popularise the ’50 by 2015′ HIV Prevention Movement and come up with a roadmap for HIV prevention in Namibia.

The subject for discussion will be: ‘Zero Discrimination by the year 2015’, with a strong emphasis on building a case for access to human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS and health.

In addition to Namibian legislators, other notable participants will include Dr David Parirenyatwa, a Zimbabwean lawmaker and former minister of health; Zimbabwean parliamentarian and activist Thabitha Khumalo; Swazi lawmaker Thandi Shongwe; Botswana’s parliamentarian Patrick Masimolole; and Tim Barnett of World AIDS Campaign. Representatives of ARASA, LAC and Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services, which advocate for the protection of human rights in the context of HIV, are also expected to attend. The International Cooperating Partners in Namibia will also grace the occasion.

The Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), a multi-parliamentary organisation headquartered in Windhoek, working with a range of CSOs in the HIV/AIDS sector in Namibia, will convene the one-day workshop.

Source: New Era

http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=36978&title=Parliamentarians,%20civil%20society%20push%20for%20HIV%20prevention