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AMAG

AMAG logo 2

 

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group, AMAG, looks forward to a society where equity and justice prevail; where the African woman is empowered to protect herself against HIV and AIDS; and where there is an Africa-driven agenda for more prevention options and access to information and products.




Call for Nominations - 2008

THE OMOLOLU FALOBI AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIV PREVENTION RESEARCH
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

 

Last year, we lost one of Africa's brightest stars and a passionate advocate for justice, truth and research in new HIV prevention technologies - Omololu Falobi. AMAG is proud to collaborate with partners - AVAC, GCM, JAAIDS, NHVMAG and TAM - to launch a new award to honour Omololu's memory and commitment to the field of community advocacy in HIV prevetion research. This award will be presented to an outstanding advocate at the next Microbicides Conference in New Delhi, India in February 2008.


We are looking for nominationsj of individuals who have shown leadership and commitment to HIV prevention research advocacy. We are looking to recognize the work of advocates who have inspired others, made changes and stayed committed to advocating for new prevention options.

 

Please send your nominations in before

January 17, 2008

To download the nomination form, please click here.

 

Please visit his memorial site at www.omololuinourhearts.org



 

 

Meet the AMAG Steering Committee for 2007

 

 

 



 

Who is AMAG?

 

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG) is a coalition of microbicides advocates from organisations and institutions based and/ or working in various African countries. AMAG was launched at the 2004 International Microbicides Conference.

 

The AMAG network has over 400 members from 30 countries across Africa and beyond. Members are community advocates, researchers, scientists, policy makers, media and service providers - working in HIV care, treatment, advocacy, research, information-management; gender equality, sexual and reproductive health / rights; poverty and economic development, and human rights.

 

We are from diverse communities, groups and cultures within the Africa Region, but share a commitment to supporting the process of developing a microbicide that is ethically developed, effective, safe and accessible. We believe in a human rights-based approach that promotes the rights of all people to equitable access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support.  

AMAG Meeting - London, Mar2004

AMAG Meeting - London March 2004

 

“With over 30 clinical trials in Africa, 100s of African researchers and advocates, and 1000s of African trial participants – it is time to amplify realities and needs on the ground.”

AMAG Aims:

-     To ensure that a coordinated African voice is engaged in setting and moving forward the microbicides advocacy agenda in Africa and internationally.

-     To support participating organizations to prepare for more effective, better coordinated Microbicide advocacy in their own contexts and between African countries. 

“How do we empower communities – future users, African researchers and NGOs, all women - to be active in this research – to own it, to critique it, to use it?”

Advocacy Objectives:

  -    African-driven agenda for microbicides R&D, advocacy and sustainable access

  -    Community partnership in the research process

  -    South-South, South-North collaboration

  -    Sharing lessons and information

  -    Capacity building for community empowerment

  -    Equitable access to future products

  -    More research to respond to needs of women with HIV

  -    Community readiness for microbicides 

AMAG Activities:

We share lessons and resources so we can learn from each other about more effective ways to advocate for ethically developed, effective and safe microbicides. We seek to do this in ways that address the special challenges and the realities in Africa and to African women, and ensure meaningful community participation and respect for human rights. We work closely with and through partner groups and link relevant groups to upcoming to projects and events. 

 “Nothing about us, without us."

 

 

We continue to…

AMAG Meeting - Bangkok July 2004

AMAG Meeting-Bangkok Jul04

    

-   Highlight the role and need for relevant African voices and leadership in setting the microbicides agenda

-   Support and conduct capacity-building opportunities

-   Map and link Africa-wide advocacy initiatives, and support budding initiatives

-   Consolidate our work and ideas - share lessons and information, facilitate dialogue

-   Facilitate and contribute to partnership-building between researcher and community  groups; 

-     Raise and place emerging issues on the microbicides advocacy agenda;

-     Build relationships with partners in the South and North

-     Work with and through partners to prepare communities for clinical trials

-     Emphasize community partnership beyond and vs. community involvement in trial recruitment and management

-     Advocate the need for more research relevant to HIV+ women

-     Promote an advocacy campaign that incorporates microbicides, vaccines and other new-prevention technologies with treatment activism.

2006 events/meetings participated/presented at include:

-    Abuja+5 Civil Society Meeting 

-    Abuja+5 Review & UNGASS Review

-    Microbicides 2006 Conference

-    XVI World AIDS Conference

AMAG eForum:

 This is a closed email discussion forum for those actively working on microbicides advocacy, research and policy in Africa. To join our growing group of over 400 people, send an introduction of yourself and all your contact details to

amag-join@dgroups.org

 

Contact us!

 

  For more information about AMAG, to find out about upcoming AMAG events, to send us reports, articles or your suggestions about this website –

write to the AMAG Steering Committee and AMAG Coordinator at:

amag_info@yahoo.com

Collective Action on Microbicides Now!!!