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IAS PRIORITY POLICY AND ADVOCACY
What is the Challenge?
There is concern among many leading HIV scientists and community actors that global leadership and political commitment to the AIDS epidemic has stalled and that the international community believes that HIV and AIDS are no longer the threat they were 25 years ago when the HIV virus was first discovered. The epidemic is far from over. At the end of 2007, 33 million people were living with HIV, 2.7 million became newly infected and 2 million people died of AIDS.
Substantial progress in delivering HIV services has been achieved; nearly four million people are currently receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, there is much more to be done. Close to 6 million more people are in immediate need of lifesaving ART, with estimates set to increase if new evidence on earlier initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with less toxic first line regimens is adopted. In addition, the world is not on track to deliver universal access commitments, and to achieve health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), specifically – halt and begin to reverse the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2015.
While the knowledge, experience and technologies to reverse the epidemic already exist, application of available evidence to inform effective policy and programmes is limited.
Priority Policy and Advocacy Themes
IAS is finding innovative ways to leverage the knowledge, experience and influence of our members to advocate for: - Accountability of global and political leaders for delivery of commitments and mobilization of adequate resources for universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care
- Strategies to strengthen the global health workforce and build health systems capacity; and integration of HIV into primary care and other health services
- Scale up of research and programs on TB/HIV and other co-infections; elimination of PMTCT; Harm Reduction including OST; and expanded access to Diagnostics
- Scale up of operations research and adoption of the best available evidence in HIV policy and programs
- Elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination and promoting rights of people living with HIV and of most-at-risk communities.
- Expanded social and political science research on HIV
IAS Policy and Advocacy Initiatives
IAS Advocacy Tools and Strategies
IAS uses a range of different methods to promote evidence, influence policy and push for timely revision of normative guidance including where policy positions of critical actors remain controversial: - Special summits and expert panels – to foster dialogue, review evidence, build expert consensus and facilitate collective action
- Policy Papers – undertake policy research and analysis, produce and publish policy reports and positions papers
- High level engagement – to influence national, regional and global health policy, participate in technical committees and high level fora
- Research and analysis – conduct mapping and review of evidence, publish reviews, editorials, commentaries, etc. in peer reviewed journals
- Campaigns – focused advocacy campaigns to heighten awareness about an identified issue, push for change and support delivery of specific outputs
- Communication tools – website; newsletter; open letters; press statements; press releases; media interviews and press conferences
- Membership engagement – to leverage expertise and to contribute to regional and global advocacy, including campaigns.
- International AIDS Conferences – maximize policy impact of international AIDS conferences, focusing on identified issues; activities include abstract and non-abstract driven sessions, satellites, special sessions, pre-conference meetings, etc.
- Partnerships and collaboration - to contribute to specific regional and global initiatives on issues of common concern
Conference Proceedings and Policy Outcomes
 AIDS 2008
Full Conference Impact Report (EN | SP)
Individual chapters for download:
Epidemiology (EN | SP)
Tracks A, B & C (EN | SP)
Tracks D & E (EN | SP)
Regional Focus (EN | SP)
Global Response (EN | SP)
 IAS 2007
New Research and Its Implications for Policy and Practice
 AIDS 2006
Conference Policy Report
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News
UNAIDS Blog: HIV This Week
 “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”
WHO Constitution
“the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in the global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic”
UNGASS Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS
Key Actors, Links and Resources:
The Rockefeller Foundation
OSI
Physicians for Human Rights
MSF
NAM
The Union
Human Rights Watch
Global Health Council
IHRA
IDPC
Canadian AIDS Legal Network
Global AIDS Alliance
International Council of Nurses
EHRN
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