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PIAF AIDS Ambassador attends YPLHIV Consultation in Netherlands

04th June, 2010 Rarotonga, Cook Islands

PIAF AIDS Ambassador, Joave Vakacereivalu is among successful applicants who will be attending the Young People Living with HIV (YPLHIV) consultation in Netherlands next week.

Ms Vakacereivalu, a new HIV advocate is looking forward to sharing her experiences as a young Pacific Islander living with HIV in Fiji, with other young HIV positive people from around the globe.

“Being a new HIV advocate, I hope to attend the consultation as a means of sharing my experiences with other young people like me. I also hope to learn from them and share my perspective and experiences of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Fiji and the wider Pacific,” she said.

She added that although there are a number of young people living with HIV in Fiji, only a few have gone public with their HIV-positive status for fear of being rejected, bringing shame to their families and villages and the fear of being left alone, all of which she had gone through when she was diagnosed HIV-positive.

Pacific Alliance on HIV and AIDS steering committee meets in Nadi

26th May, 2010 Rarotonga, Cook Islands

PIAF, as the Secretariat of the Pacific Alliance on HIV and AIDS, will be hosting its steering committee - the 13 PIRMCCM Civil Society Organizations and Positive Peoples representatives – at a meeting in Nadi, Fiji.

The 4-hour meeting commences at 1pm on May 30th - a day before the PIRMCCM convenes.

This meeting will replace the 4th Forum of the Pacific Alliance on HIV and AIDS which was to take place alongside the PIRMCCM.

The idea follows strong recommendations from the Secretariat, with the support of the steering committee, that it has only been six months since the last meeting giving members little time to make new strides into the 2010 program calendar.

PIAF’s CSO Coordinator Morgan Slavkin said the meeting aims to review existing and newly drafted governance documents in order to strengthen the foundation of the Pacific Alliance which will help set the tone for future strategic planning and serve as a declaration of commitment to high standards for current and future donors.

She said: “It is also the close of Global Fund Round 7 Phase 1 funding hence all CSO’s and representatives from the Positive Peoples Networks need to work together to address future funding gaps.”

In the meantime, the Secretariat has already re-negotiated an extension for Phase 2 funding that extends to December 2010. //ENDS

First HIV specific Human Rights Training of Trainers workshop a success

12th May, 2010 Rarotonga, Cook Islands

The first ever workshop on HIV specific Human Rights Training of Trainers (TOT) for the Pacific region conducted in Kiribati ended last week on a high note.

The 4-day workshop was made possible thanks to the Global Fund and a partnership between the Government of Kiribati and the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation (PIAF).

Sixteen participants mainly from the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and the Technical Working Group responsible for drafting Kiribati’s National HIV Strategic Plan received completion certificates at the end of the workshop.

PIAF’s Legal Trainer and Policy Analyst and workshop facilitator, Laitia Tamata said amongst other findings from the workshop, there is no legal protection for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) under the Kiribati law. Hence, PLHIV are not comfortable disclosing their status for fear of stigma and discrimination, which is understandable and so they choose to exercise their right to privacy and confidentiality.

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial - May 16, 2010

"Many Lights for Human Rights"

Candlelight Memorial

The Candlelight Memorial, held on the third Sunday of each May since 1983, is the first and the oldest grassroots mobilization campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness in the world. With 33 million people living with HIV today, the Candlelight Memorial serves as an important intervention for global solidarity, breaking down barriers, and giving hope to new generations.

HIV and AIDS on the agenda at first Pacific Youth and Sports Conference

April 7, 2010

The inaugural Pacific Youth and Sports Conference held recently in Aotearoa attracted over 800 young delegates from 17 Pacific Island countries. The conference tackled all issues involving youth and sport – even the difficult ones.

PIAF AIDS Ambassador Joave Vakacereivalu addressed the theme, ‘Using sports as a tool for HIV and AIDS awareness. She told conference participants that just as they have to ‘play by the rules’ in sport, so must they ‘play by the rules’ in making choices about sex.

Vakacereivalu, a keen sports person, was diagnosed as HIV positive when she was just 20 years of age. Her life story held particular relevance for the young people of the conference - many of whom believed that it couldn’t happen to someone of their own age.

More Articles...

Pacific Islands Aids Foundation

PIAF AIDS Ambassador attends YPLHIV Consultation in Netherlands

Pacific Alliance on HIV and AIDS steering committee meets in Nadi

First HIV specific Human Rights Training of Trainers workshop a success

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial - May 16, 2010

"Many Lights for Human Rights"

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