Author: Valeria Fulga, AFEW International
AFEW International initiates the Working Group (WG) on public and inclusive health within the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum. AFEW is doing it together with the following organisations: Active Citizenship, Stichting Skosh, Centre for Social Support “Navigator”, FOCUS-MEDIA Foundation, Humanitarian Action, Humanitarian Project, Kovcheg Anti-AIDS. AFEW felt the need of introducing a completely new topic to the Forum after participating in various General Assembly meetings of the Forum.
Having a healthy society stands at the very base of any nation. Health-related issues arise not only within health-related policies but also at various other levels.
AFEW International sees deteriorations in Romania, Bulgaria and Russia when it comes to the freedom of speech and implementation of social justice work in the light of the health field. Working in solidarity with the European Union and Russia Civil Society Organisations towards inclusiveness, particularly when it comes to health is what AFEW aims for in this WG.
“More precisely, the present WG aims to learn from other Civil Society Organisations what methods worked for them and we – the members of the WG – would like to use it as an exchange platform and understand how other countries are working on an inclusive health agenda and how they are resilient in difficult times,” says Janine Wildschut, coordinator of the WG from AFEW’s side.
AFEW International has already gathered a group of active community-led civil society organisations in the WG. These organisations have a background in HIV or key populations fields. During the General Assembly which will take place in Bratislava in May 2019, several meetings will be organised. These meetings will have two different objectives: discussing the path for the WG and opening the WG for other interested parties. Those organisations that are interested in joining AFEW’s WG can get in touch with AFEW’s director of programs and WG’s coordinator Janine Wildschut at janine_wildschut@afew.nl.
