Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - 1 December 2004
On 1 December 1994, at the Paris AIDS Summit, 42 governments declared that the principle of 'greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA)' was critical to the response to the HIV pandemic. "These governments committed themselves to supporting full involvement of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the formulation and implementation of public policies at all levels. Examples from around the world prove that the first-hand experiences of those living with the virus are crucial for a successful response to HIV/AIDS," Bernard Gardiner, Manager of the Federation's Global HIV/AIDS Programme, explains.
"Yet it is evident that not enough has been done to make the greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS possible at all levels of HIV/AIDS policy making and programme implementation. We need to pass from good intentions to practical measures that produce concrete results," he adds, recalling that in 2001, at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, all governments pledged to enact, strengthen or enforce as appropriate legislation, regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against, and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people living with HIV/AIDS.
To mark the tenth anniversary of GIPA, GNP+ and the International Federation are launching a joint project in which people living with HIV/AIDS evaluate GIPA in action. The project gives an opportunity to reflect on the current status of GIPA and what can be done to improve its implementation. "Conclusions from this joint project confirm little has changed. We know from last year's UNAIDS progress report on meeting the targets set in the Declaration of Commitment that there are critical weaknesses in national efforts to implement greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS," Gardiner adds.
To make the benefits of GIPA a reality on the ground, Federation and GNP+ embarked in 2001 on a partnership to reduce stigma and discrimination at global, regional and national levels through increased and meaningful involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS in the work of the Federation. In 2003 the Federation was made a UNAIDS Collaborative Centre in partnership with GNP+ for this work.
"Constraints to implementing the GIPA principle include lack of a supportive social and legal environment, high levels of fear and stigmatisation and lack of commitment from institutions and organizations that rely on the expertise of people living with HIV/AIDS to include people living with HIV/AIDS in decision making. We need to copy those models of meaningful involvement that are successful, like the Global Fund delegation of the community of people living with the diseases," says Stuart Flavell, International Coordinator of GNP+.
For more information on the project, please visit: http://www.gnpplus.net/gipa_in_action.html
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