As part of AFEW’s strategy to keep the dialogue with the countries we work in and to support our local partners that implement groundbreaking projects for people who use drugs, sex workers, people living with HIV and other key populations, AFEW is organising or taking part in the following seminars during the 5th Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference (EECAAC) in Moscow:
Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations – Successes, Achievements, and Challenges
The objective of this seminar is to share the results of the “Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations” programme, and the People ho Use Drugs Project in particular. We will focus on interventions developed, including: youth activities in Ukraine, e-learning and knowledge platforms in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, prison activities in Georgia, and the exchange of information with other harm reduction organisations in the programme, and with other key populations
When: March 24, 11:30 – 13:00
Where: BIRYUSA Hall
Speakers/Presenters:
Janine Wildschut, Project Manager, AIDS Foundation East-West
Anke van Dam: Director, AIDS Foundation East-West
Ikrom Ibragimov: Director, Public Foundation AIDS Foundation East-West in Tajikistan
How Community Involvement in Research Leads to More Effective Interventions
presentation of research opportunities for community based organisations that work with key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. By equipping community members with tools to conduct research and collect data, their capacity is increased and the research results reflect an inside perspective as to needs and priorities to design future intervention programmes
When: March 24, 13:30 – 15:00
Where: BAIKAL Hall
Speakers/Presenters:
Anke van Dam: Director, AIDS Foundation East-West
Natalya Shumskaya: Director, Public Foundation AIDS Foundation East-West in Kyrgyzstan
Community-Based Efforts to Ensure Access to HIV Treatment
The work of the community within the project “Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations”
When: March 25, 13:30 – 15:00
Where: Congress Hall 1
Speakers/Presenters: Anke van Dam: Director, AIDS Foundation East-West
Information Exchange and Cooperation between the European Union and the Countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region
The main theme of this seminar is the expansion of HIV prevention and treatment services for key populations as a key element of the HIV response strategy in the EU and EECA region. Participants will become familiar with the most illustrative examples of the activities of the civil society as well as identify gaps that must be filled from the civil society’s point of view
When: March 25, 15:30 – 17:00
Where: BIRYUSA Hall
Speakers/Presenters:
Anke van Dam: Director, AIDS Foundation East-West
Olga Alexandrova: Head of the programmes and projects, East Europe & Central Asia Union of PLWH (ECUO)
Michael Krone: Executive Coordinator, AIDS Action Europe
Ljuba Böttger, Communications Coordinator, AIDS Action Europe
In addition to these, AFEW’s partners will be presenting their work with key populations.
Nadezhda Sharonova from NGO “Podruga” in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, will speak on the Specifics of Prevention and Treatment among Female Sex Workers.
When: March 25, 11:30 – 13:00
Where: PRESS ROOM
NGO “Podruga” is the only organisation in the south of Kyrgyzstan that works specifically with women who use drugs, sex workers and former prisoners.
Finally, AFEW is also involved in the key population photo exhibition “Every life matters”, jointly organised by partners of Bridging the Gaps. These are stories of six people that invite to step into their world and experience what it is like to be a drug user living with HIV in Nepal, a young gay man in Botswana, a female sex worker in Uganda, a male sex worker in Vietnam, a woman who uses drugs and a young gay man in Kyrgyzstan. The exhibition features a unique combination of photos made by these community members themselves and complementary photos that were made by award winning photographer Chris de Bode. Through their photo stories, we want to create more visibility about the challenges they encounter and the HIV risks they face.
The 5th Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference will bring together 2500 scientists, experts, healthcare professionals, policy makers and civil society representatives who will exchange best practices and jointly strategize about how to achieve the UNAIDS target of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
