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Brussels Briefing

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Microbicides: Meeting the Challenge of HIV Prevention in Women

Renaissance Hotel Brussels - 7th October 2005

This briefing on microbicides, organised by the Global Campaign for Microbicides and the International Partnership for Microbicides, brought together 70 representatives of African governments, the European Commission, EU member states, the European Parliament and civil society to learn about the vital role microbicides could play in a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS.

Agenda
Report of the meeting (220Kb)
Attendance List
Biographies of the Speakers
How IPM and GCM are working together in Europe

 

Welcome Remarks: 

H.E. Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas, the Ambassador of Mozambique to the EU
Opening the meeting, Ambassador Manuela dos Santos Lucas issued a strong call to her colleagues to become involved in the microbicides cause: “we are here today to remind you that we are losing women on a daily basis in ever greater numbers, that we have failed collectively to prevent women and their children from succumbing to infection and to eventual death. We have failed to address the factors of gender inequality that fuel the AIDS pandemic….The time that it will take to get a microbicide depends on us. It depends on our political will”.

To obtain the full speech, click here (56kb)

Francoise Welter

Ms. Francoise Welter, addressing the question of why women need microbicides.

 

Panel One:
Microbicides: A critical component of HIV prevention

Chair: Ms Francoise Welter, Policy Coordinator of the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+)

Why ABCs are failing African women (291kb)

In a brief presentation (click here (33kb)), Francoise spoke eloquently to the need in her own country, Rwanda, and that of her own daughter growing up in the Netherlands. She explained how poverty, gender and HIV infection are integrally linked and called for attention to microbicides that positive women could use: “microbicides are a heaven sent opportunity, but only if they challenge gender inequality and are available to every woman that needs them”.

The state of research and development of microbicides for the prevention of HIV (2.4 mb)

Dr Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) gave an overview of the latest developments in the microbicides field and how the IPM is seeking to accelerate the timeline for a microbicide. Dr Rosenberg was asked about the ethics of conducting trials in resource poor settings, she replied that the era of “parachute research” which leave communities no better off is hopefully over, and that IPM’s clinics will become hospital facilities once the trials are completed.

Responding to policymakers’ concerns (890kb)

Lori Heise, Director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides tackled a number of key questions that policymakers often have in respect to microbicides, such as ‘will people stop using condoms?’. She talked of how the Campaign is successfully demonstrating the impact that even a partially effective microbicide could have on public health and on women’s lives. In response to a question about lemon juice as a potential microbicide, she answered: “Just because something is natural, does not mean that it is necessarily safe”.

Panel Two

Microbicides and the European agenda: Public and Private responses


Chair: Mr. Michel Lastschenko, Special AIDS Envoy, Belgian Development Cooperation

In his introductory remarks, Mr. Lastschenko spoke of the importance of revitalizing prevention efforts alongside treatment and education programs. He announced that Belgium would support the next international conference on microbicides in Cape Town 2006.

Panels

From left to right: Dr. Jens Van Roey, Mr. Michel Lastschenko, Dr. Manuel Romarís & Dr. Lieve Fransen

HIV/AIDS Research in the 6th Framework Programme (898.5kb)

Dr Manuel Romarís presented on the work of DG Research to date in the area of microbicides. The Commission has funded two basic research programs which bring together European microbicides experts. He reminded participants of the importance of increased resources for research in the new budget of the European Union and the hope that it will be at least doubled for the period 2006-2013.

Partnering with IPM to develop a microbicide

Tibotec is a Belgian company that became the first to partner with IPM in 2004. Dr Jens Van Roey shared the experience of creating a pharmaceutical company which focuses on delivering solutions to African health needs. He spoke of how the IPM has been a natural partner for them in developing microbicides in a new way of working. Tibotec will not only make microbicides freely available for use in developing countries, but will also give IPM the royalties on any products sold in the West.

The perspective of DG Development Concluding Remarks

Dr Lieve Fransen spoke of her continued support for microbicides and how the Commission is supporting the work of the IPM and advocates in this regard: “In 1993 we issued the first call for proposals for actions on HIV addressing women in Africa. I knew at that time already that HIV interventions were failing women”. She was delighted to see IPM and the Global Campaign working successfully to raise awareness of this critical issue.

Concluding Remarks:

Anne van Lancker, MEP, Chair of the Working Group on Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and Development in the European Parliament
In a passionate closing speech, Ms Van Lancker told the audience: “This is a human rights issue. The right to protection against HIV infection is a human right.” She emphasized that the current methods of HIV prevention are too gender neutral and that microbicides have to be part of the response to the AIDS pandemic. She praised the work of the Global Campaign for Microbicides and the International Partnership for Microbicides and thanked them for a very enjoyable meeting.

Selected comments from the floor:

“I do support microbicides and I hope they are available in less than 5 years. African women have no rights over sex. They are at a terrible disadvantage” - Ambassador Deo Rabita of Uganda.

“Everything that we’ve talked about is real. I want to offer my support and I urge you to form a direct partnership with the ACP countries, and I open the door to the microbicides initiative, I offer my political will” - Ambassador Brian Grathen Bowler of Malawi.

Lieve Fransen

H.E. Mr. Brian Grathen Bowler & Dr. Lieve Fransen thanking Ms. Welter for her excellent presentation.