Countdown 2015 Europe Project

The Global Campaign for Microbicides has been invited to give a presentation on microbicides during the Steering Committee meeting of the Countdown 2015 Europe Project (Gates funded consortium of experienced advocates working on SRH supplies in the north). The audience will include experienced advocates working on SRH supplies in the north. The afternoon session will also include a presentation by Yvonne Bogaarts from WPF on the Female Condom.

2008

The Irish Family Planning Association organised a conference on ‘Drug Use: A Reproductive and Sexual Health Perspective’ in Ireland. Microbicides was included on the agenda and Dr Samantha Govinder of the Microbicides Development Programme attended and spoke on behalf of the Global Campaign for Microbicides. Click here to access the conference website.

Members of the African Microbicides Working Group in the UK joined the students at St. George balloon launch to mark World AIDS Day in London. St. George's University are involved in vaccine and microbicides research.

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG), the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM), the Indian Network of NGO’s (INN), the National Coalition on Health Initiatives (NCHI) and the Positive Women’s Network (PWN+) organised the 2008 Microbicides Pre-Conference Workshop preceding the formal opening of the Microbicides 2008 Conference. Read more about the pre-conference.

EuroNGO's, YouAct, WPF and RFSU organised an expert session on “Advocating for SRHR" in Brussels for it's 25 European youth advocates. Arwa Meijer from the Global Campaign gave a short introduction of their work on microbicides in Brussels before entering in small in-depth Q&A sessions. The young advocates learned about how to effectively advocate for the inclusion of SRHR, including microbicides in EU policies and more funding for SRHR programmes in the EU development cooperation programmes.

The Global Campaign for Microbicides organised a Microbicides Master Class for Brussels based partners as a preparatory training in advance of the Microbicides 2008 conference in New Delhi, India.

The training provided an opportunity for participants to get answers to specific questions they had and to discuss microbicide topics in more depth. At the end of the training the participants were equiped with increased confidence and skills to be able to speak publicly on microbicide research and the ethics of clinical trials and to represent the Campaign at meetings and conferences.

2007

December 5, 2007

A breakfast seminar on microbicides was held in the French National Assembly with 30 participants attending, including Members of Parliament, press and NGO representatives. A new brochure on microbicides by AIDES, Equilibres & Population and the Global Campaign for Microbicides has been launched and disseminated to over 700 members of Parliament and senior government officials. For a copy of the Microbicides brochure, please click here.

December 4-7, 2007

The Giving Women Power Over AIDS photographic exhibit was on display at the Global Consultation on the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of PLHIV in Amsterdam in partnership with the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+). 80 participants from all over the world attended the Global Consultation.

November 28-29, 2007

On World AIDS Day, the Global Campaign for Microbicides joined forces with Stop Aids Alliance, IPM and IAVI to raise awareness in the European Parliament by distributing red ribbons, condoms and female condoms to MEPs and Parliamentary staff.

November 27, 2007

GtT organised a special seminar on microbicides in the Spanish National Congress, with input from the Global Campaign for Microbicides, civil society, microbicide researchers and members of Parliament. For more information, please contact Marion Zibelli.

November 5, 2007

Staff and colleagues at Noah’s Ark in Stockholm met to view the documentary film ‘In Women’s Hands’ and discuss ideas for taking microbicides advocacy forward in Sweden.

November 3, 2007

IPM and GCM were invited to present at a special session of the European Community Advisory Board (ECAB) on microbicides. The ECAB is a project of the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) and consists of over 60 activists, an increasing number of which are based in Central and Eastern European countries. Discussion focused on Phase III trial design, rectal microbicides, the pros and cons of various microbicide approaches and advocacy strategies currently being employed in Europe. For more information about the work of the ECAB, please contact Michal Odermarsky.

October 18 - 20, 2007

Over 1800 politicians, human rights activists, NGOs and health professionals gathered in London for the Women Deliver Conference. A joint interactive session by the Global Campaign, IBIS, IAVI and CHANGE highlighted strategies for mobilising political will and resources to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls. Dr Kim Dickson and Georgina Caswell (pictured), spoke about the urgent need to give women more options. The session concluded with acknowledgement that lessons learned from the female condom will be vital to the successful introduction of microbicides, vaccines and cervical barriers. For more information, please visit the conference website.

September 19, 2007

© Mark Evenden/St George's,
University of London

The BBC TV documentary series ‘Inside Out’ highlighted the collaboration between scientists and advocates in HIV prevention research. Members of the African Working Group for Microbicides in the UK teamed up with researchers who were delighted to hear about the impact that their work could have. Filming took place in three locations: at the laboratories at St. George’s University, at the offices of Positively Women and at a community event at the National Gallery. 'HIV Science in Action' was screened on BBC 1 (London region) on the 19th September at 7.30 pm. For more information, please click here. The documentary can now be viewed on You Tube: click here.

September 11, 2007

On 11th September 2007, the Finnish HIV Network organised a breakfast seminar on Women, HIV and Prevention at the Helsinki Deaconess Institute. 20 people from the Network's diverse constituencies attended, along with MPs from the Finnish All Party Parliamentary Group on Population and Development. The event was held to accompany the tour of the photographic exhibit on microbicides, "Giving Women Power Over AIDS" in five locations across Finland, including at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aurora House in Helsinki, and the University Libraries of Turku and Oulu. For more information, please contact Sini Pasanen, Positiiviset ry.

July 6, 2007

Dutch NGO, Aids Fonds organised an information session in Amsterdam on preventive technologies and what they could mean for women. In the presence of 50 participants, including Paul Bekkers, AIDS Ambassador of the Netherlands, policy makers and representatives from Dutch development NGOs, the GCM Director Lori Heise presented on why it is important to have a variety of options. Other areas covered during the session were: male circumcision by Maarten Schim van der Loeff, Researcher for AMC/Center for Poverty-related Communicable Diseases; Microbicides trials in Africa by GCM Steering Committee member Dr. Janneke van de Wijgert; and AIDS vaccines by Dr. Frans van den Boom, IAVI. The session resulted in an interesting debate on male circumcision and partner involvement in clinical trials. For more information, please contact Moniek van der Kroef, Aids Fonds.

July 1 – 4, 2007

During the AIDSIMPACT 2007 conference in Marseille, France, GCM Deputy Director, Anna Forbes and Dr. Frans van den Boom, Executive Director, European Programmes of IAVI, led a panel session on ‘Ethical and Social challenges of HIV prevention trials and how researchers respond to them’. The exhibit ‘Giving Women Power Over AIDS’ was also on display, hosted by French NGO partner, AIDES.

June 21, 2007

‘

"Sisters are doing it for themselves!", a major conference on women, sexual health & HIV was held in Edinburgh on 21st June 2007. The conference was organised by HIV Scotland's African and Minority Ethnic HIV Project (AMEHP), with the support of the UK African Working Group on Microbicides and GCM. The aim of the conference was to bring together key agencies, political and other interests to explore women's HIV and sexual health needs, and prevention activities, with a view to campaign for microbicides and promoting effective HIV prevention.
To download the conference report, please click here

May 31 - June 1, 2007

The European Strategy Meeting brought GCM partners and allies in Europe together to strategise on joint action in the region, and to mobilise local advocacy efforts in Scandinavia. Twenty NGO representatives from nine European countries gathered with staff over a two-day meeting that was jointly organised with local partner HIV Denmark. Discussion focused on setting the goals for European advocacy at member state and EU level, and identifying areas where capacity for specific aspects needed to be built. The meeting concluded with a strong sense of unity on where the Campaign should focus over the coming years and clarity on next steps at the national and regional level. For the meeting report, please click here

May 22, 2007

Dr Kim Eva Dickson Tetteh, Chair of the GCM Steering Committee and the African Microbicides Advocacy Group, gave a presentation on the need for female controlled HIV prevention options at the International VENRO-HIV/AIDS Conference in Bonn. 125 participants from more than 60 civil society organisations in Europe and Africa attended. The final communiqué called for greater investment in female-controlled methods such as microbicides and vaccines. To read the conference report, please click here

May 21 - 25, 2007

During the Global AIDS Week of Action, GCM partner ActionAid organised a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 22nd May. Hosted by Umberto Guidoni and Luisa Morgantini, 10 MEPs and 20 parliament staff came together to the launch of ActionAid’s new report on the 'Political Barriers to the fight against HIV&AIDS'. Speakers Anne Van Lancker MEP and John Bowis MEP highlighted the importance of new prevention technologies in the fight against HIV/AIDS. At the main entrance of the European Parliament the globe statue was covered with the red AIDS ribbon. For more information see www.globalaidsweek.org

May 10, 2007

The UK African Working Group on Microbicides organised the first student microbicides event at King’s College London for 25 fourth-year medical students. This event was organised jointly by the secretariat of the working group, AHPN and the Student Stop AIDS Campaign. Dr. Sheena McCormack gave a presentation on research and development which was followed by interactive session on the ethics of trials by GCM staff Arwa Meijer and Rebekah Webb.

March 12, 2007

In celebration of International Women's Day, the UK African Microbicides Working Group in Partnership with George House Trust organised a discussion on women, HIV and microbicides. 58 participants attended the seminar, most of whom were African women. A significant number were living with HIV and others were HIV activists. To read the seminar report, please click here.

March 6, 2007

A screening of the GCM short film ‘In Women’s Hands’ was held in Brussels as part of a series of informal lunches on themes related to gender and development. Rebekah Webb, GCM European Coordinator presented an overview of the Campaign. 25 representatives of Brussels based organisations attended and a lively discussion on the research, ethics of trials and access concluded the meeting.

2006

December 4, 2006

The Campaign’s photographic exhibit ‘Giving Women Power Over AIDS’ was displayed at the 10th Dutch National Conference on STIs and HIV/AIDS. The conference was opened by the Minister for Development, Agnes van Ardenne, who highlighted the recent Dutch funding for microbicides. Furthermore, a specific workshop was devoted to new prevention options, in which microbicides researcher Dr. Janneke van der Wijgert made the case for women-initiated options.

December 1, 2006

On World AIDS Day, the Global Campaign for Microbicides exhibited 'Giving Women Power Over AIDS' at The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the presence of the Dutch AIDS Ambassador, Paul Bekkers, and a long-time campaigner for microbicides in the Netherlands, Monique van der Kroef, the event focused on the feminisation of the pandemic and the urgent need for microbicides. More than 50 representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the opening of the exhibit.

December 1, 2006

The UK African Microbicides Working Group organised a range of activities across the UK entitled ‘Talking About Microbicides’ to engage Africans in discussions, distributing flyers and/or presenting on microbicides at World AIDS Day events organised by the following members: The Crescent; Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham Primary Care Trusts African Communities Project; Inner North East London African Forums; Luton Primary Care Trusts; Keeping the Promise: Faith Leader’s Conference; Waverley Care & Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS Project Dhiverse, Cambridge; Intergospel Health Organisation.

November 29 – 31, 2006

A coalition of 13 NGOs in Brussels came together to mark World AIDS Day in the European Parliament to push for universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support. GCM helped to create a giant banner which listed EC and member state commitments on AIDS to date. The distribution of female condoms proved to be the star attraction at the stand. Members of the European Parliament also learned about the future formulations that microbicides could take.

November 15 - 17, 2006

The Campaign's photographic exhibit 'Giving Women Power Over AIDS' was displayed at the first European Union Development Days conference in Brussels. During the three day event at which the Heads of State of 15 African nations attended, GCM staffers Rebekah Webb and Arwa Meijer explained the importance of microbicides to African and European delegates and recruited new NGOs to the Campaign.

November 6 - 10, 2006

The ‘Giving Women Power Over AIDS’ exhibit was prominently displayed at the European Parliament in Brussels in the first week of November. The formal cocktail opening on 7th November was introduced and chaired by Anne van Lancker MEP, President of the European Parliament Working Group On Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and Development. During the well-attended reception, Kenyan-born advocate Wanjiku Kamau emphasised the increased “feminization” of HIV/AIDS and how it is crucial for women to have a prevention mechanism that places the decision-making power in their hands. Dr. Sheena McCormack made a brief overview of the status of research on HIV/AIDS prevention technologies, and stressed the need for a range of options and the importance of ongoing funding for expensive trials. Dr. McCormack ended by emphasizing the role of the European Union in making the most of new prevention technologies including microbicides.

August 17, 2006

During The AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada, European Coordinator, Rebekah Webb gave a presentation on microbicides at a satellite event on New Prevention Technologies. The other panellists included Edd Lee of AVAC and Kim Mulji of the Naz Foundation International.

August 3, 2006

Representatives of the National Health Service and nine UK NGOs dedicated to HIV prevention and treatment efforts with African communities came together in London to discuss how they can mobilise greater support for microbicides in the UK. Jointly organised by the UK African Working Group on Microbicides and the Global Campaign, the half-day meeting focused on building the capacity and confidence of the participants to advocate for microbicides with their constituencies and communities. For more information and to view the meeting report please click here.

June 17 - 22, 2006

The “Giving Women Power Over AIDS” exhibit was prominently displayed at the 11th meeting of the EU - ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Vienna, where members of the European Parliament and representatives from the European Commission met together with policy makers from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to discuss a range of development issues. Portuguese MEP Ana Maria Gomes opened the exhibit on Monday 19th June, highlighting the need for new prevention technologies for women.

The Global Campaign was also invited to speak during the Women’s Forum on 18th June which focused on ‘Access to health care: how to achieve the three health MDGs’. Steering Committee member of the Global Campaign, Francoise Welter, submitted a statement focused on the Millennium Development Goals and microbicides which was read out to delegates on her behalf. GCM staffer Arwa Meijer answered delegates' questions during the debate.

June 7, 2006

Irish NGOs gathered for a conference to discuss microbicides and build support for increased Irish and European engagement in their development. The photographic exhibit “Giving Women Power Over AIDS” was on display at the National College of Ireland with a formal opening given by Senator David Norris. Organised by Cairde, a long term partner of the Campaign in Ireland, the event saw the addition of two new organisations, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) and the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) to the microbicides cause.

May 25, 2006

The National AIDS Trust and the UK Campaign for Microbicides organised an information day focused on organisations and individuals working in sexual and reproductive health and HIV in the UK. As well as giving an overview of recent microbicide developments, the meeting considered the benefits and implications of the new technology for communities and discussed barriers to ongoing advocacy efforts in the UK. For the report of the meeting please go to: http://www.nat.org.uk/document/147

April 18, 2006

The Campaign’s photographic exhibit “Giving Women Power Over AIDS” was hosted at the European Commission in Brussels, with an opening reception attracting over 40 representatives and staff of the EU institutions as well as ambassadors and officials of several African and European member states. Dr. Lieve Fransen, Head of Human and Social Development within the Commission and long-time champion of microbicides, opened the event, congratulating the Global Campaign for creating a powerful tool for raising awareness. Please Click here to read the Press Release and for media reporting see media page.

March 30, 2006

An “MTV” (Microbicides, Treatment and Vaccine) symposium was organised on 30th March by Spanish partner GTT (Grupo de Trabajo sobre Tratamientos del VIH) in collaboration with IAVI, GCM, IPM and the Catalan International Development Agency (ACCD). Debate centred on how to balance the immediate needs of treatment in comparison to the more long-term needs of research into new prevention options and concluded with a call for advocates to align advocacy strategies towards policymakers in Spain. Contact Marion Zibelli: mzibelli@gtt-vih.org for further information.

March 20, 2006

The UK African Microbicides Working Group administrated by the African HIV Policy Network organised a Microbicides Information Day entitled ‘What do we do about…microbicides?’ The day started by showing the DVD 'In Women's Hands'.

The Working Group is part of the UK Campaign on Microbicides and aims to ensure that the public interests of African communities (in the UK and overseas) are protected and the rights and interests of trial participants, users and communities are fully represented and respected. For a copy of the meeting report and more information please contact: Georgina Caswell georgina.caswell@ahpn.org

March 13-14, 2006

The European partners of the Global Campaign met at PATH offices in Ferney-Voltaire, France for a regional strategy meeting. A diverse group of eleven representatives from Belgium, Spain, the UK, Denmark and Ireland met together with Global Campaign staff to discuss the direction GC Europe will take in the coming year and how GC Europe fits into the wider Campaign globally, and also within advocacy on HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights in the region.

January 14, 2006

An ACTSA (Action for Southern Africa) Conference convened by InterAct Worldwide, SSAT and Amicus was held on ‘International meetings, not meeting international needs’ with speaker Stephen Lewis, UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Mr Lewis applauded everybody in the field for their vital work to end AIDS. The Campaign’s photographic exhibit “Giving Women Power Over AIDS” was displayed alongside the conference.

2005

December 9-11, 2005

The Global Campaign jointly held a three-day training event on ethics in Brussels with the EATG, a European network of treatment activists. Over 30 members from 30 countries attended. For more information and to view the meeting report please go to: http://www.global-campaign.org/EATG_microbicides_training.htm

December 1, 2005

On World AIDS day, the Global Campaign for Microbicides joined forces with ActionAid international, Stop Aids Alliance, MSF and IAVI to call upon the EU to take urgent action on HIV/AIDS.

Representatives from several international NGOs came together in the European Parliament to mark World AIDS Day by raising awareness and distributing red ribbons to all Members of the European Parliament. By the end of the day, more then 2500 people were wearing a red ribbon. On the Stop AIDS Alliance website you find a short explanation of WAD toghether with a PDF of the recommendations the group of the International NGOs put togheter and the Declaration of Commitment drafted by a group of Members of the European Parliament.

November 30, 2005

On the eve of World AIDS Day, the Campaign’s photographic exhibit “Giving Women Power Over AIDS” made its official European launch during a gala evening reception at Somerset House, a 500 year old former palace in London. The event, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS, was well attended by members of the UK and EU Parliaments as well as prominent scientists and other policy makers. Focusing on 'HIV Prevention: Promises, Progress & Reality', the high-level event addressed key issues dealing with HIV prevention, including microbicides.

October 7, 2005

The Global Campaign for Microbicides hosted a joint briefing in Brussels with the International Partnership for Microbicides entitled “Microbicides: Meeting the Challenge of HIV Prevention in Women”. 70 representatives of African governments, the European Commission, EU member states, the European Parliament and civil society attended in order to learn more about the vital role microbicides could play in a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS.

Speakers included H.E. Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas, the Ambassador of Mozambique to the EU, Dr Lieve Fransen of the European Commission, Ms Anne Van Lancker, MEP and Mr Michel Lastschenko, Special AIDS Envoy, Belgian Development Cooperation. For copies of the presentations, report and to see photographs of the event, please visit http://www.global-campaign.org/microbicides-briefing.htm

October 6-8, 2005

A European seminar was held on 6 - 8 October in Paris organised by AIDS Action and Integration on women and AIDS. This seminar was designed to promote the integration of established community-based methodologies to strengthen the work carried out on Women and HIV issue by local HIV/AIDS NGOs, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. The seminar featured a presentation on microbicides by Maria Jose Vazquez from the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW). In the list of recommendations, the participants supported the development of microbicides research. For the presentations and other documentation of the event, please go to www.integration-projects.org/

June 7-8, 2005

Parliamentarians from G8 and African countries gathered for the “G8 International Parliamentarians’ Conference on Development in Africa 2005” hosted by the Scottish Parliament and organised jointly by the World Bank, the Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (IEPFPD), Interact Worldwide and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank. The importance of investment in new prevention technologies in the fight against HIV/AIDS was highlighted in the plenary on ‘Investing in people: Health, Education, HIV/AIDS and Population’ and microbicides are explicitly supported in the Edinburgh Declaration, presented to the Prime Minister’s office on June 30. Each conference attendee received a copy of our film ‘In Women’s Hands’.

May 19, 2005

Representatives from 10 Brussels-based NGOs attended a special screening of “In Women’s Hands” at the secretariat in Brussels. Co-hosted by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM),Tessa Mattholie and Rebekah Webb gave presentations on why microbicides are critical for the fight against HIV/AIDS and for women’s health all over the world. As a result of the screening, the European Public Health Alliance, which represents more than 100 non-governmental and other not-for-profit organisationsworking on public health in Europe, posted an article about microbicides on their website. See http://www.epha.org/r/34

April 7-8, 2005

European partner groups working on microbicides met at the PATH Europe office in Ferney, France for their first European strategy meeting in two years. Fourteen representatives from Germany, the UK, Spain, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands met together with Global Campaign staff to discuss the direction GC Europe will take in the coming year and how GC Europe fits into the larger global picture of microbicide advocacy. Representatives of the International Partnership for Microbicides, the Stop AIDS Alliance and the European AIDS Treatment Group were also present to help inform the discussion of how best to collaborate with other pan-European advocates working on these issues.

March 5, 2005

To commemorate International Women’s Day, ACT UP Paris, AIDES, Le Kiosque, Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial (MFPF) and the SIDA Info Service joined together to present Women, AIDS & Sexuality, a conference dedicated to women living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The afternoon session was dedicated to microbicides, the first time that such a discussion had taken place in France.

Among the presenters were Dr Laurent Belec, prominent microbicide scientist, Marion Zibelli of El Grupo de Trabajo sobre Tratamientos del VIH (GTT) and Pauline Mounton of the Association for Solidarity and Action among Women (AFASO) in Cameroon. AIDES and this coalition of French agencies will continue throughout 2005 to lead their highly successful campaign to secure French government investment in microbicides. For more information, visit the AIDES website.

2004

Dec. 1, 2004

A hearing on Women and AIDS was held at the European Parliament to mark WAD, hosted by the Working Group on Reproductive Health, Population and Sustainable Development, the Global Campaign for Microbicides, the International Partnership for Microbicides, the Stop AIDS Alliance, and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. An outline of the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU in the area of HIV/AIDS were set out by Patrick Hemmer, First Secretary for Development Cooperation, and the meeting concluded with a wish-list of items for Parliamentarians, member states, Commission officials and civil society to take forward in 2005. For the minutes of the meeting, please click here.

Nov. 25, 2004

A symposium on microbicides, the first event of its kind in Spain, was organised by GTT and Creacion Positiva in partnership with the Global Campaign for Microbicides in Madrid. Speakers included Lourdes Chamorro, Secretary for the National AIDS Plan in the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs and Dr Robin Shattock, a leading microbicides researcher. The event galvanised considerable interest among the AIDS community for taking national advocacy forward. For a copy of the symposium report, click here.

Sept. 17, 2004

A training day on microbicides was held in London by the UK Campaign for Microbicides, in partnership with Global Campaign for Microbicides, the National AIDS Trust, and the Terrence Higgins Trust. 25 activists from a range of backgrounds engaged in ‘participant-friendly’ presentations on the science, the role of the community and the UK advocacy agenda. The day concluded with a discussion about campaign goals and activities for the next 18 months.

June 24, 2004

Petitions signed by more than 200,000 people around the globe calling for accelerated research into microbicides and vaccines were delivered to governments gathered in Dublin for the first EU conference on new HIV prevention technologies. Hosted by the Irish and Dutch Ministers of Development, the “Conference on New Preventive Technologies: Providing New Options to Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS” was attended by high-level representatives of EU member states, developing country governments, NGOs and multilateral organisations.

June 2, 2004

Dublin-based NGOs Cairde and the National Women’s Council of Ireland convened a seminar on HIV/AIDS and women to discuss the ways in which gender inequalities are driving HIV transmission within Ireland and across the globe. A series of strong speakers painted a picture of poverty, discrimination, stigma and yet courage. Participants were invited to join local efforts to raise awareness of the need for microbicides around the world. Click here for the meeting report.

Feb. 26, 2004

The UK Campaign for Microbicides jointly hosted a seminar with the All Party Parliamentary groups on AIDS and Population, Development and Reproductive Health to raise awareness of microbicides among parliamentarians. Under Secretary of State for Development, Gareth Thomas MP addressed the important role that DFID is playing in the search for a microbicide. Dr Zeda Rosenberg, Chief Executive of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) and Prof. Jonathan Weber, Imperial College, also presented.

Feb. 23-24, 2004

HIV/AIDS advocates from across Europe gathered in Dublin to draw the attention of the governments of Europe and Central Asia to the need to increase the resources available for HIV prevention, treatment and care. The conference endorsed the important role that microbicides can play in the fight against HIV. Among its many other recommendations, the ‘Dublin Declaration on Partnership to Fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia’ urged governments to step up their funding for microbicides and other new prevention technologies.

2003

Nov. 13-16, 2003

Over fifty microbicide advocates from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America were brought together in London by International Family Health and the Global Campaign for a 3-day advocates’ meeting. Advocates from Denmark, Portugal, the Netherlands and the UK met to discuss and plan European efforts to raise awareness and commitment to microbicides, committing to a pan-European strategy.

Nov. 12, 2003

Representatives of Dublin-based women’s organisations and international NGOs, including the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Christian Aid, Ruhama, Ireland en Route and Concern, came together to discuss the potential of microbicides for women both in Ireland and in developing countries. The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold a follow-up meeting in the New Year and to raise microbicides at the conference on AIDS to be held in Dublin this February as part of the Irish Presidency of the EU.

Oct. 22-23, 2003

The Global Campaign for Microbicides sponsored an international consultation on ethical issues in clinical testing of microbicides in Washington D.C. Over 70 individuals from 14 different countries came together to discuss and debate issues related to the design and conduct of microbicide trials, especially those that take place in resource-poor settings. The proceedings from this meeting can be downloaded from the GCM website at http://www.global-campaign.org/ethics.htm.

Sept.11-12, 2003

GC Europe partner AIDS-Fondet held a two-day meeting in Copenhagen to raise awareness and generate action on microbicides among Nordic NGOs. Representatives from 15 Danish, Swedish and Norwegian HIV/AIDS-focused, family planning and international development organizations attended. The meeting concluded with a discussion of what participants needed in order to take advocacy and mobilisation efforts forward in their own countries.

July 29, 2003

A one day international meeting of the Mediterranean Network of Listening to Women (Réseau Méditerranéen à l’écoute des femmes) was organised by the Portuguese HIV/AIDS organisation, Abraco. IFH gave a presentation on microbicides to a diverse audience of approximately 100 people. Overall, the event was a success in raising awareness about microbicides among HIV/AIDS activists and medical practitioners in Southern Europe, where knowledge of microbicides is low but interest high.

June 28, 2003

Anna Foss, from HIVTools Research Group, LSHTM, presented on the current evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa on condom use and the implications for microbicides at the fifth meeting of the UK/Ireland Campaign for Microbicides. IFH updated participants on microbicide advocacy in Europe and the Global South and Lorna Colquhoun provided an update on the Microbicides 2004 Conference.

Mar. 31, 2003

Representatives from six European countries met in London to discuss a European communications strategy, advocacy at the level of the European Union political insitutions, lessons learnt from the evolution of one campaign site (UK/Ireland) and an overview of what organisations are presently doing in Europe.

Mar. 26-7, 2003

Rebekah Webb and Joseph O’Reilly of the National AIDS Trust, in partnership with the GCM, presented a workshop on rectal microbicides at the Community HIV/AIDS Prevention Summit, Leicester, UK.

Mar. 11, 2003

The fourth meeting of the UK/Ireland Campaign for Microbicides focused on UK involvement in clinical trials, both in the UK itself and in the global south. Research Sister Miranda Cowen described Imperial College London's microbicide trials in the UK and their plans for the future, and Lorna Colquhoun, Senior Programme Manager, gave an overview of the DFID-Medical Research Council's Microbicide Development Programme.

2002

Nov. 29, 2002

Irish NGO Cairde launched its report titled, " Microbicides - The Case for Europe" in Dublin. The launch included briefing sessions with Irish Members of European Parliament, Members of Irish Parliament and Irish Senators, and with representatives from Irish NGOs.

Nov. 28, 2002

The third meeting of the UK/Ireland Campaign featured an update of the GCM by Lori Heise, an update on the N9 campaign and a proposed plan of action for 2003. This includes a parliamentary strategy, outreach to gay and women's movements, a training workshop on microbicides advocacy, and supporting clinical trials taking place in the UK.

Click here for the meeting report (84KB).

Sep. 24, 2002

Twenty-four representatives of a wide range of organisations attended the second meeting of the UK/Ireland Campaign for Microbicides. Campaign working methods and objectives were discussed and the meeting started the process of identifying key policy targets around which to advocate. Participants were also invited to join the call to recall nonoxynol-9. The focus of the next meeting on November 21 will be the implementation of a detailed framework of activities.

Click here for the meeting report.