News Archive

Year: 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

AFEW in Kyiv presents a report: «Children and young people living or working on the streets: the missing face of the HIV epidemic in Ukraine»

On 14 December, AFEW in cooperation with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine have presented an analytical report ‘Children and young people living or working on the streets: the missing face of the HIV epidemic in Ukraine’. Among the invitees were representatives from Ukrainian and international NGO, governmental bodies and international donors. The research, financed by the Danish AIDS Fondet, was carried out in the framework of a joint project by AFEW and UNICEF called ‘HIV/STI prevention and health promotion among children and young people living and working on the streets’. The research methods included situation analysis and quantitative and qualitative surveys conducted among street children in Kyiv and Odesa. The picture on the cover page of the report was taken by David Gillanders, a Scottish photographer who has worked closely with AFEW on a street children project in Ukraine. Click here to see the full version of the report

Posted on 27 Dec 2006

AFEW wins competition for NGO annual reports
The AFEW annual report for 2005 has won the ‘international’ category in the ‘All-Russia Competition’ for NGO annual reports, sharing the award with our partner organisation FOCUS-MEDIA Foundation. In all 33 NGOs took part in the competition, which was held by the Centre for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations, with each NGO presenting their annual report to the jury. The official awards ceremony took place on 7 December in Saint Petersburg as part of the Forum entitled ‘Social Petersburg: new solutions. 2006’, and was organised by the Centre for the Development of NGOs with the support of the Gagarin Foundation and the Committee for Youth Policy and Cooperation with Public Organisations of the Saint Petersburg Government. The Forum is continuing the tradition of big city events with the aim of showing the contribution the non-profit sector makes to both society and the social policies of St. Petersburg, whilst also creating the chance to make professional contacts with partners from their own and other sectors. Taking part in the 2006 Forum were representatives from NGOs, executive and legislative authorities of St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg region, self-governing local bodies, business, state and municipal institutions, university lecturers, journalists and visitors to the St. Petersburg region, the North West, Moscow and other regions of the Russian Federation. Participants in the Forum were able to discuss themes such as the changing conditions for the work of the non-profit sector in Russia and St. Petersburg, the role of public organisations in social development, changes in the law with regards to public organisations and the creation and function of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.
Posted on 7 Dec 2006

Winners of the poster competition for prisoners
On 1 December, World AIDS Day, the results of a poster competition in social advertising were announced. The competition was held among prisoners and was organised by AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW). The themes covered were the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, drug use, and tolerance and attitudes towards people living with HIV. There were 35 posters entered for the competition which came from six different regions of Russia. The expert jury, which was made up of representatives from UNAIDS, the Russian Federal Penal Service (FPS) and AFEW, named the following as the competition winners: 1st Place — Yelena Fedorovna Usacheva and Oksana Vladimirovna Kornilova, Colony № 1, wing 7, the FPS Directorate for Vologda region, Vologda. 2nd Place — Inna Valentinovna Dubrovina, Colony № 2, wing 1, brigade 1, the Main FPS Directorate for Nizhniy Novgorod region, Nizhniy Novgorod. 3rd Place — Colony № 22, wing 4, the FPS Directorate for Krasnoyarskiy Kray, Krasnoyarsk. Special awards were also given to: The most active NGO (in the field of prison work) — the non-governmental organisation ‘Preodolenie’ from Tver region, Tver. The most active regional penal service — the Main FPS Directorate for Volgograd region, Volgograd. The most active region — Vologda, the FPS Directorate for Vologda region, Vologda. All winners will receive certificates and prizes.
Posted on 4 Dec 2006

AFEW holds a World AIDS Day concert in the ‘Cult’ nightclub
On 3 December the Moscow nightclub ‘Cult’ and AIDS Foundation East-West invite everyone to take part in a special event, dedicated to World AIDS Day, named ‘HIV and AIDS: it concerns you’. The aim is to bring into the open the idea of solidarity with people living with HIV, and also to raise awareness among young people of the necessity for safer sexual behaviour, with particular emphasis on HIV prevention. The concert programme features alternative music, a light show from Natalia Poloka and much more besides. Everyone who goes will receive a special present and get the opportunity not only to have a good time, but also to receive valuable knowledge about HIV and AIDS.
Posted on 28 Nov 2006

Regional AFEW office in Kyiv invites friends and partners to one of the top Kyiv night clubs and World AIDS Day Party
Regional AFEW office in Kyiv second year in a row organizes World AIDS Day Party, which is going to take place on December 3, at one of the most stylish Kyiv night clubs PaTiPa. The aim of the event is to increase the society’s HIV/AIDS awareness, contribute into forming a tolerant attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS and to stress out the necessity of reasonable sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS-prevention, in particular. Maria Burmaka, Ukrainian pop-singer is going to be a special guest of AIDS Day at PaTiPa. She has become a face of Access to Treatment campaign, called Your Health is in Your Hands, and conducted by AFEW in 2005. Maria will welcome the guests with her most popular hits. Contex, trade mark, which is a sponsor of the party, will provide all the participants and guests of the party with condoms, and give the souvenirs to those who win the contests and quizzes, called to increase HIV/AIDS awareness, tell people more about HIV/AIDS in Ukraine and in the world, inform them about ways of HIV transmission and to form a tolerant attitude towards HIV-positive people.
Posted on 27 Nov 2006

AFEW gets Russian prisoners to help in the struggle against HIV/AIDS
On 1 December, World AIDS Day, AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) will announce the results of a poster competition in social advertising aimed at preventing HIV/AIDS among prisoners. Taking part are prisoners from six Russian regions — Tver, Vologda, Nizhniy Novgorod, Volgograd, Krasnoyarsk and Norilsk. In total, 40 posters were submitted for the competition. The themes covered were the prevention of HIV, sexually transmitted infections and drug use, as well as tolerance and attitudes towards people living with HIV. The posters were sent by the prisoners themselves, by penal institutions and by regional non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the field of HIV prevention among prisoners. The participants’ work can be seen on the AFEW website. By 1 December the jury, which consists of representatives from UNAIDS, the Federal Penal Service and AFEW, will have chosen the winners. Awards will be handed to the creators of the winning work and also to the most active prison institutions, regional penal service departments and NGOs working in the penal system. It is intended to use the posters in the future when creating informational materials for prisoners, penal system employees and NGOs.
Posted on 17 Nov 2006

New Developments at AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW)
The AFEW management team has recently decided to make some changes in the organisational structure. The three members of the AFEW management team will move to Amsterdam, the Netherlands in early 2007. The changes have been made so that the organisation remains flexible and able to actively influence the rapidly changing global environment and donor policies. As a Dutch organisation working internationally the management team and the board of directors are confident that being close to AFEW’s major partners and donors in the Netherlands, Europe and North America will bring the organisation new opportunities and new alliances in programme development enabling AFEW to further expand its impact over the HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In addition, AFEW will be able to position itself in Dutch society, which has a rich tradition of NGOs active in the field of HIV and AIDS, with even more energy than before. Located in Amsterdam, it will utilise increased opportunities to advocate and raise awareness amongst a wider pan-European audience on critical HIV/AIDS issues hitting the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and make a louder call for appropriate action. Project implementation in Russia will continue from the Russia Regional Office in Moscow. Our regional offices in Kyiv (Ukraine) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) will also continue managing projects in their respective regions.
Posted on 3 Nov 2006

AFEW holds roundtable on HIV prevention among men who have sex with men
On 26 October, AFEW’s office in Kyiv, with support from the Social Advertising Research Centre of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences’ Sociology Institute, presented the results of their activity in the field of preventing HIV and STIs among men who have sex with men. Venereologists, urologists and therapists, as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations, were also invited to take part in the discussion. The roundtable participants emphasised the need to step up efforts to raise awareness among MSM about the prevention of HIV and STIs, as well as safer sex. AFEW’s representatives talked about the activities of its project for the prevention of HIV and STIs among MSM, which are aimed at expanding access of men who have sex with men to the diagnosis and treatment of STIs through the creation of a network of MSM-friendly healthcare professionals, in partnership with other NGOs involved in the prevention of HIV and STIs among MSM. One of the achievements of the Project for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS and STIs among Vulnerable Groups has been the completion of research on ‘Assessing the training needs of venereologists, urologists and therapists in Kyiv with respect to the prevention of STIs and support for MSM.’ The aim of this research was to determine the needs of medical specialists in terms of training and support for the target group. In the opinion of the experts, the conclusions of this research give rise to a number of questions that must be included in doctors’ training. During the project’s first year, some 8 000 MSM have received and continue to receive educational and informational support in the field of HIV and STI prevention. Some 120 men who have sex with men have taken part in educational sessions. The roundtable also included a presentation of a brochure entitled ‘Medical needs and problems among men who have sex with men’, which was prepared by AFEW’s Senior Programme Advisor Yury Sarankov. The brochure addresses a broad range of issues that affect MSM. It is aimed at improving the system for providing medical assistance to men who have sex with men.
Posted on 2 Nov 2006

AFEW Receives New Registration in Russia
AFEW has successfully registered in the Russian Federation in accordance with new law that went into effect in April 2006. The Federal Registration Service granted a registration number effective as of 11 October 2006 that will allow AFEW to continue its work on all HIV/AIDS projects.
Posted on 24 Oct 2006

AFEW + HIV/TB + client management = enhanced continuity in care for vulnerable populations in Central Asia
AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded a large 3-year grant for HIV/TB efforts in four Central Asian Republics – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The award from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFS) will run in 2008–2010 and will allow AFEW to further strengthen HIV/TB collaborative activities in the region and expand its HIV client management services for marginalised communities, including prison populations, together with its close partner, KNCV. Joost van der Meer, AFEW Executive Director says: ‘This is an amazing opportunity for AFEW and we are pleased to be able to expand our efforts in providing greater continuity in care to those in need, together with a strong consortium of national and international partners.’
Posted on 17 Oct 2006

AFEW releases the Russian version of the 2005 annual report
The new AFEW report has been released under the title: ‘AFEW - Giving Hope to Many’. The annual report is designed to give the readers a general understanding of how the organisation pursues its goals and an overview of AFEW’s programmes in the eight countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia where we work, about funds raised and spent in 2005, about partnerships and collaborations with other organisations. In addition, the report provides statistics on the development of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region, as well as the results achieved by AFEW in curbing the HIV/AIDS epidemic last year. Copies of the report can be ordered from AFEW at the address: info@afew.org
Posted on 28 Sep 2006

AFEW starts work on the GLOBUS 2nd phase
AFEW and Open Health Institute have signed a contract for Phase 2 (Years 3–5) of the GLOBUS project conducted in 10 regions across Russia. Four specific projects will be continued by AFEW: Expanding and increasing the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services; Reducing HIV transmission via injecting drug use; Reducing HIV transmission in the Russian penal system; Preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and providing treatment, care and support to parents and/or their children living with HIV/AIDS. The work plans for the coming years allow AFEW the chance to assist regions in building a comprehensive continuum of care for PLWHA. By identifying the needs of existing referral networks and both medical and social services, emphasis will be on developing a structure of client management and supporting regional agencies who can provide this as a direct service. AFEW staff under the GLOBUS project will work toward establishing a long-term model for HIV/AIDS care within the regional AIDS service organisations. Specifically, skills on ‘transitional’ and ‘family-centred’ client management will be developed amongst our regional partners working with inmates and HIV-positive women and children; and adherence support groups for IDUs will be created.
Posted on 26 Sep 2006

First Central Asian regional prison health forum to be held in Almaty
A Central Asian Republics Regional Forum on Drug Use and Infectious Diseases Issues in Prisons is being organised by AFEW and will be held in Almaty from 20–22 September. The forum will be the first meeting of its kind, bringing together penal system staff and representatives from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Members of regional working groups for health promotion in prisons as well as representatives from international organisations and NGOs and heads of governmental agencies responsible for health promotion in prisons will also participate in the event. Participants of the forum will have the opportunity to share their experiences; explore new approaches for preventing drug use and infectious diseases in prisons; and examine the potential role of case management in gaining control over the spread of STIs. Other topics on the agenda include discussing how to best facilitate co-operation among national penal systems and other governmental structures, international organisations and NGOs in preparing prisoners for discharge and social adaptation.
Posted on 15 Sep 2006

AFEW releases the English version of the 2005 annual report
The 2005 AFEW report has been released under the title: ‘Giving hope to many’. The annual report covers AFEW’s programmes, events and partnerships, as well as funds raised and spent in the region. The report gives special attention to situation in the countries where AFEW works and the achievements in curbing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. AFEW’s Executive Director, Joost van der Meer, writes in his message: ‘As you will see in the report, one of our many methods of addressing this problem is to continue confronting myths, ignorance and stigma. As a Dutch organisation operating in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, our strategy is to build knowledge while capitalising on experiences and best practices from the East and the West. Our Annual Report is designed to give you a general understanding of how we pursue our goals and an overview of AFEW’s programmes in the eight countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia where we work.’ Copies of the report can be ordered from AFEW at the address: info@afew.org
Posted on 11 Aug 2006

AFEW speaks out against attempts to re-classify buprenorphine as a narcotic
AFEW signed a petition initiated by AIDeS – a French AIDS service organisation – speaking out against the French government’s intentions to re-classify buprenorphine (a drug used for substitution treatment of opioid addiction) as a narcotic. AIDeS states that such a move would reduce legal access for patients and increase the flow of the medication on the black market. The petition states: ‘The main argument in support of the proposed re-classification is that it will substantially decrease the trafficking of buprenorphine on the black market. However, data suggests that less than five percent of patients receiving substitution treatment channel their buprenorphine supply into the black market. Many clinicians involved in providing substitution treatment in France are concerned that the re-classification will make physicians, pharmacists and potential patients reluctant to engage in buprenorphine or methadone maintenance treatment programmes. Even a small decrease in participation by doctors or pharmacists in such treatment will considerably reduce access to drug treatment for the 95 percent of patients who fully comply with all of the treatment requirements.’
Posted on 25 Jul 2006

Tajikistan government sends AFEW words of gratitude
Representative office of AFEW in Tajikistan received a letter of thanks signed by Lieutenant General Sharipov, Head of the Penal System Directorate, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan. In the letter the Ministry commends AFEW for its fruitful and effective work in the field of drug demand reduction, health promotion and prevention of HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases and drug use in Tajikistan’s penal system. Currently, AFEW is the only non-governmental organisation operating in Tajikistan that is allowed to work inside the prison facilities. Another letter of thanks was sent to AFEW from the Drug Control Agency under the President of Tajikistan. On behalf of the agency, Lieutenant General Nazarov, the Director, presented AFEW with an honorary certificate for its significant input in health promotion.
Posted on 14 Jul 2006

‘Civil 8’ presented to the President of RF recommendations for combating HIV/AIDS epidemics
A forum of international and Russian NGOs gathered at the ‘Civil G8 – 2006’ which was hosted in Moscow on 3–4 July. In preparation for the upcoming G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, the forum allowed for discussion and formulation of positions of international public concern. One of the eight roundtables, co-organised by AFEW and entitled ‘Combating the Spread of HIV/AIDS: from Money to Action’ focused on international experience in fighting HIV/AIDS epidemics. The final recommendations were summarised and presented to President Putin to take into consideration while hosting the Summit later in the month.

Read the statement >>

Posted on 13 Jul 2006

‘Civil 8’ discusses the problem of combating HIV/AIDS epidemics
A forum of international and Russian NGOs will gather at the ‘Civil G8 – 2006’ which is being hosted in Moscow on 3–4 July. In preparation for the upcoming G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, the forum allows for discussion and formulation of positions of international public concern. One of the eight roundtables, co-organised by AFEW and entitled ‘Combating the Spread of HIV/AIDS: from Money to Action’ will focus on international experience in fighting HIV/AIDS epidemics. The final recommendations will be summarised and presented to President Putin to take into consideration while hosting the Summit later in the month.
Posted on 30 Jun 2006

AFEW discusses the possibility of co-operation with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
On 7 June 2006, Yuri Sarankov, Senior Programme Advisor on IDU issues, represented AFEW at the conference on ‘Orthodox Services in Prisons: HIV/AIDS issues’. Among conference participants were representatives from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (who work with inmates) as well as representatives from NGOs working in HIV prevention in Ukraine, such as AFEW, UNAIDS, International HIV/AIDS Alliance and the All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH. Yuri Sarankov was one of the speakers who made a presentation about the issues of HIV/AIDS in prisons. He provided an overview of what is being done in different countries to tackle these problems and discussed the possibility of co-operating with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the government in order to lessen the effects of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the penal system. The event was organised by the Department of Charitable and Social Services of Saint Synods under the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which in March 2005 received AFEW’s technical support in developing an HIV/AIDS strategy in Ukraine.
Posted on 23 Jun 2006

AFEW completes counselling training for staff of regional counselling training centres
Staff of AFEW’s Counselling project have completed training staff trainers of the regional counselling training centres (CTC) in Kazan, St. Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk. Now, the CTCs are able to conduct trainings for regional specialists independently. From 2005 to 2006, staff of AFEW’s Counselling project developed trainings on ‘Counselling after receiving positive test results’, ‘Counselling on forming adherence to ARV therapy’ and ‘Emotional burnout syndrome prevention’. The training rounds on these topics were held in stages. The first cycle of trainings was on ‘Counselling after receiving positive test results’. At the initial stages, AFEW’s trainers took an active part in the process, but as time went on, the specialists of the CTCs took over. A similar process ensued with the subsequent training cycles, the last of which began at the end of 2005. In April 2006, the final joint training was held on ‘Emotional burnout syndrome prevention’. Now, the CTCs are fully equipped to hold trainings independently turning to AFEW only for consultative support. All together, the Kazan, St. Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk CTCs conducted 32 trainings in the 10 regions of the GLOBUS project, six of which they held independently. In total, 411 specialists – including medical and social workers and psychologists – and 150 peer counsellors were trained. Based on trainings evaluation, staff of the AFEW Counselling project developed recommendations on HIV/AIDS counselling for regional specialists.
Posted on 5 Jun 2006

AFEW participates in AIDS Memorial Day in Amsterdam
More than 300 people gathered at the Dominicus church in Amsterdam for International AIDS Memorial Day to remember all those who have died of AIDS. Quilts with names was on display; people who lost loved ones to AIDS gave speeches; and music was played and songs sung in remembrance of those who have died. As part of the ceremony, participants of the event read out the names of people who died of AIDS. Following the reading, eight representatives from all over the world lit candles for those people worldwide whose names were not mentioned. Ilona van de Braak, Director of AFEW’s European office, lit a candle and – in Russian – said: ‘By lighting this candle, we remember all those who have died of AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia’. These candles were passed around among the participants of the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the participants walked down the streets of old Amsterdam carrying white balloons in a short march of remembrance. The balloons, many of which had nametags on them, were released into the sky from a bridge in the centre of Amsterdam.
Posted on 30 May 2006

Chai Vdoem calls on young people in Omsk to take care of their health

The popular Russian band Chai Vdoem rounded up the “Show them” safer sex media campaign with a concert in Omsk on 18 May. Prior to the show the group members, Denis Klyaver and Stas Kostyushkin, took part in a press conference dedicated to the campaign. The conference was organised by AFEW and its local non-governmental partner Sibirskaya Alternativa (“Siberian Alternative”). “We are happy to be able to give a message to our audience about the importance of taking full responsibility of their health and warn them against careless behaviour. Today’s youth find it fashionable to do sports and take care of their looks. We would like them to understand that to have safer sex and to use condoms is as natural and crucial as any other part of young people’s culture,” Denis said. “Many people think that HIV/AIDS is not their problem, but the disease continues to spread. One day a friend or a relative might get infected, and then the problem can become real,” Stas added. At the end of the press conference, Alyona Pravidlo, AFEW’s Media Campaigns Project Manager, awarded the Chai Vdoem members with an honorary diploma in recognition of the band’s active participation in HIV prevention and promotion of safer sex among young people.

Posted on 22 May 2006

Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS Conference participants sign the final declaration
On May 17 the 1st Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS Conference came to an end in Moscow. More than 1500 delegates from all over the world took part in the event. During the final plenary session the summary statement of the conference was made public. The document reads, in particular, as follows: ‘We urge that all possible measures are taken to provide evidence-based, effective, equitable and affordable, uninterrupted, universal and non-discriminatory access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care, including adequate social services’.

Read the statement >>

Posted on 18 May 2006

AFEW and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Form Strategic Partnership to fight HIV/AIDS and TB
AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation of the Netherlands have signed an agreement to partner strategically in response to the rapidly growing HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). The strategic partnership will allow both organisations to make a larger impact, aiming at building up its existing programmes and rolling out activities to other countries in the region. The added value of the partnership will help assure quality, TB/HIV coordination and increased effectiveness of their innovative programmes to control TB, prevent HIV and provide treatment, care and support for people with HIV/AIDS and/or TB. ‘This is a big step forward for both our organisations and for the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We are looking at a situation where the independent epidemics of HIV and TB are starting to merge and fuel each other. But there is still time to act and it is important that the leading Dutch AIDS and TB organisations team up to face this crisis,’ said AFEW’s Executive Director Joost van der Meer. AFEW and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation have a history of working together that started in 2003, when AFEW joined a programme on ‘Tuberculosis control and prison reform’ in Kazakhstan by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and Penal Reform International. The cooperation built the capacity of local prison staff and healthcare workers and resulted in establishing pilot prevention programmes in prisons.

Press-release >>

Posted on 16 May 2006

AFEW calls on young people to get tested for HIV
Through the dissemination of informational materials, the AFEW advocacy project launches a new initiative in the 10 GLOBUS regions to encourage young people to get tested for HIV and inform them about ARV therapy and access to it. Fliers launched by the project — ‘Do you know about existing ARV therapy?’ and ‘7 reasons to be tested for HIV’ — will be distributed at locations frequently attended by young people – schools, hostels, cafes, bars, arcades/casinos and cinemas. A total of 135 thousand fliers will be disseminated in the 10 GLOBUS regions. Aside from providing information about ARV therapy and getting testing for HIV, the fliers include addresses and phone numbers of 13 AIDS centres working in the 10 GLOBUS regions. According to the organisers, the initiative will motivate young people to visit AIDS centres to get tested for HIV and to ask about ARV therapy.
Posted on 11 May 2006

AFEW and Alexander Druz award inmates for knowledge about HIV
On 24 April, in Tver regional colony No. 4, the final round of the first ever Russian brain-ring contest among inmates was held. This intellectual contest was organised by the Tver regional penal system together with the NGO ‘Preodolenie’ and with support from AFEW. Eight teams representing eight Tver regional colonies took part in the final games. Veteran player of the T.V. game show ‘What? Where? When?’, Alexander Druz, took part in the event as a guest of honour and member of the panel of judges. Representatives from AFEW and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also sat on the panel of judges. The game’s theme was ‘Let’s fight HIV with a brain-ring’ and was devoted to issues relating to HIV/AIDS and other socially significant diseases. According to the organisers, the main goal was to attract society’s attention to the problem of HIV in the Russian penal system. The contest winner was the team from colony No. 4. The first and second place winners received TV sets from AFEW. The male winners of the individual nominations for ‘Best Player’ were awarded books, while female winners from colony No. 5 received perfume.
Posted on 4 May 2006

Rian van de Braak and Wim Landman dubbed Knights in the Order of Orange-Nassau
On 27 April, in the Dutch Embassy in Beijing, during a ceremony attended by the Dutch Ambassador in China, Rian van de Braak and Wim Landman, who were among AFEW founders and now are implementing an exploratory mission in China on behalf of AFEW, received a knighthood and became Knights in the Order of Orange Nassau. This honour came as an award for their work in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention in Eastern Europe and Central Asia over the last 10 years. This title is bestowed upon people who have rendered outstanding services for civil society over a considerable period of time, and who have made considerable contributions to the development of their community. Rian van de Braak and Wim Landman devoted 10 years to developing and implementing HIV-prevention programmes in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Their activities have helped hundreds of people affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The knighthood of the order of Orange-Nassau recognises their efforts in fulfilling this humanitarian mission. AFEW congratulates Rian and Wim with this award and wishes them success in their challenging job in China. As a Dutch organisation, AFEW is proud to have two employees among its ranks that have been awarded such a honorary Dutch title.
Posted on 27 Apr 2006

AFEW joins 800 world NGOs in UNGASS
Nearly 800 NGOs from all over the world will participate in the upcoming UNGASS review meeting aimed at monitoring the targets outlined in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. The meeting will be held in New York from May 31 - June 2. AFEW representatives will be among the meeting\\\\\\\'s accredited participants together with 12 NGOs operating in Russia, 20 from Ukraine and organisations from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Moldova. The main focus of the meeting will be to review progress made in the implementation of the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in countries all over the world. The UNGASS review meeting will bring governments and a broad representation of civil society together to focus on goals achieved and efforts still needed in tackling the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. AFEW is looking forward to meeting its partners in New York at the end of May to discuss progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the EECA region and in other countries of the world.
Posted on 17 Apr 2006

Peter Piot supports AFEW in fighting HIV in Russia
Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), met with government officials and NGO representatives in The Hague on 16 March, during his three-day visit to the Netherlands. AFEW’s European office Director Ilona van de Braak was among the 60 people who attended the meeting. In his speech, Dr. Piot outlined UNAIDS’ main activities in fighting HIV/AIDS around the world. During the question-answer session, Ilona stressed that extra efforts are needed in fighting HIV/AIDS in Russia, considering the country’s high rate of HIV transmission among injecting drug users; the society’s stigmatisation of HIV-positive people; and the low level of knowledge among medical staff of treatment adherence among IDUs. In his response, Dr. Piot acknowledged that the region and the issues related to assistance to IDU’s are indeed a real challenge. Also Dr. Piot asked the audience to look at the things achieved worldwide including EE/CAR and in this context praised AFEW for their groundbreaking work over the past 5 years.
Posted on 11 Apr 2006

AFEW joins NGOs demand for transparency
AFEW signed an open letter instigated by NGOs from all over the world demanding transparency of and open access to reports on the progress of international implementation of the Declaration of the UN General Assembly on the fight against HIV/AIDS. The letter states: ‘UNAIDS requested governments to submit progress reports on Declaration of commitment implementation by December 31, 2005… Unfortunately, despite our repeated requests, government reports have not yet been made publicly available by UNAIDS… it is clear that transparent policymaking processes and access to critical information are essential. In the interest of preserving the credibility and legitimacy of the high-level review meeting, please let us know when and how UNAIDS plans to make available… the government progress reports it has received…’

Read the letter >>

Posted on 30 Mar 2006

AFEW develops universal training manual
A new manual developed by AFEW specialists on organising and conducting trainings has been released. The manual, entitled ‘Training: A guide for action. Theory and practice’, tackles all the most crucial topics concerning the organisation of trainings – from group structure and the rules governing group work, to the trainer’s role and working out administrative and organisational problems. The manual contains specific instructions on conducting a range of trainings such as outreach work, motivational interviews, pre- and post-HIV test counselling, rapid situation assessment, cooperation between harm reduction projects and the penal system as well as trainings for trainers and trainings on burn-out syndrome prevention. There is a separate chapter with a number of exercises for use in trainings. The textbook will be useful for both experienced trainers and for beginners, and is being distributed free of charge.
Posted on 29 Mar 2006

AFEW takes part in World Tuberculosis Day event in Kazakhstan
On 24 March, a roundtable was held in the conference hall of the Turksibsk Tuberculosis Clinic in Kazakhstan in honour of World TB Day. Alongside the representatives of governmental organisations at the roundtable were AFEW’s Nicolas Cantau, Saltanat Surtaeva and Natalia Vezhnina. With support from AFEW’s Case Management project, the Turksibsk TB Clinic has created a social bureau to provide juridical, medical and psycho-social support for drug users, ex-inmates and HIV-positive people infected with TB. A drop-in zone with a needle exchange programme has been set up within the clinic where clients can – in addition to getting clean needles – receive condoms and informational materials. In his speech at the roundtable, Nicolas Cantau, AFEW’s Regional Director for Central Asia, noted this unique opportunity to collaborate on establishing client management activities in a TB clinic and stressed the importance of client management for promoting adherence to TB and ARV therapy. Natalia Vezhnina, advisor on HIV and TB, talked about AFEW’s activities and about how to minimise the risk of co-infection of HIV, TB and the various forms of hepatitis as well as how to slow their spread in general.
Posted on 29 Mar 2006

Kyrgyzstan NGOs speak out against criminalising sex work
Natalia Shumskaya, AFEW project manager in Kyrgyzstan, took part in a press conference organised by Kyrgyzstan NGOs in response to a government initiative to subject sex workers to criminal prosecution. The press conference was held on 13 March in Bishkek. Among the participants were representatives from AFEW, the ‘AntiAIDS’ association, the NGO ‘Tais Plus’ and city police department № 8. The participants informed journalists about the current commercial sex work situation in Kyrgyzstan and spoke of the necessity of advocating for reasonable legislation that will reduce risks for sex workers. In her speech, Natalia drew participants’ attention to the need for increased HIV/STI prevention among sex workers, and informed them about AFEW’s project being implemented in this area. The participants of the press conference stressed that the criminalisation of sex work in Kyrgyzstan will hamper HIV/AIDS prevention efforts among sex workers and, as a result, will expose a considerable part of the Kyrgyzstan population to the risk of infection.
Posted on 27 Mar 2006

AFEW launches roundtable in Omsk
A roundtable entitled ‘HIV Prevention Among Youth: Searching for Effective Decisions’ took place on 16 March in Omsk. The event was the result of a joint effort by AFEW (with support of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV financed by MATRA) and regional NGO ‘Siberian Alternative’. Among the participants of the roundtable were Alyona Pravidlo, project manager of AFEW’s Mass Media Campaigns project; Svetlana Izambaeva, ‘Miss Positive–2005’; journalists; and representatives from the city administration, federal and regional AIDS centres, higher education institutions and NGOs. During the roundtable, participants became familiar with mass media campaigning as an effective tool for HIV-prevention among youth. They discussed the ‘Show Them!’ campaign on safer sex, currently being implemented in Omsk. Out of the roundtable came the decision to co-ordinate the activities of governmental and non-governmental organisations in fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Posted on 17 Mar 2006

Tver female colony holds beauty contest
Staff of AFEW’s HIV Prevention and Health Promotion in the Penal System project participated in organising the first ever beauty contest in the Tver region’s female colony. The contest – ‘Miss Northern Venice 2006’ – was held on 1 March in colony No. 5 in Vishniy Volochek. Penal System project assistant Victoria Angarkhaeva served on the panel of judges for the contest. The contest winner was 23-year-old Evgeniya Semyonova, who, apart from the crown, received a TV set from the prison administration and cosmetics from AFEW.
Posted on 10 Mar 2006

AFEW welcomes new Director of Programme Development
As Wim Landman and Rian van de Braak explore AFEW’s horizons in China a new member of the AFEW Management Team has been appointed by the Board of Directors. Robin Montgomery, former Deputy Director of Programme Development and long-time colleague at AFEW, took her new post as the Director of Programme Development for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. ‘I have worked closely with Robin over the last two years’ said Wim. ‘In this time, I have come to see her tremendous dedication to her job as Deputy Director of Programme Development, her commitment to AFEW’s cause, her knowledge on a wide variety of HIV/AIDS related topics, her analytical brain, her great communication skills and, last but not least, her great sense of humour’. We wish Robin success in her new position!
Posted on 6 Mar 2006

AFEW starts its exploratory mission in China
AFEW’s exploratory mission in Beijing officially begins operating on 1 March 2006. The first staff members in China office are Rian van de Braak, Director of International Affairs, and Wim Landman, Director of Programme Development in China. Their first task is to make an in-depth assessment of what AFEW can bring to the fight against HIV/AIDS in China. ‘Although China has been spared from HIV/AIDS for a long time because of its isolation, the epidemic is now booming,’ said Rian van de Braak. ‘After the initial spread of the virus through contaminated blood transfusions, the epidemic is currently evolving among injecting drug users, inmates, sex workers and young people. AFEW has expertise and experience in working with these groups in the specific context of countries in transition: this is exactly what we are good at.’
Posted on 1 Mar 2006

European NGOs issue statement on new sources of funding
Representatives of European NGOs met in Paris on 19–20 January 2006, and issued a statement in support of new sources of funding for development of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria treatment. Among proposed measures was an international air ticket tax. This statement, which received the support of 79 countries, expressed the position that international air ticket taxes can make a significant contribution to the treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This is one of a number of initiatives designed to create alternative sources of financing for treatment development. Others include international taxation mechanisms and the International Finance Facility for Immunisation. AFEW also signed the statement.

Read the statement >>

Posted on 17 Feb 2006

Kyiv clubs devote St. Valentine’s Day to safer sex
AFEW, in cooperation with condom manufacturer Contex, organised two Valentine’s Day parties. The romantic weekend began with a party at club ‘Ring’ on 11 February and was followed by a party at club ‘112’ on 14 February. Thanks to the radio advertisements aired on two popular radio stations - Kiss FM and Prosto Radio - the parties attracted more than 700 visitors in total. During the parties, people received Contex condoms together with AFEW informational materials prepared within the framework of the safer sex campaigns in Russia and Moldova. In addition to a warm atmosphere and good music, participants were invited to participate in several contests and to receive Valentine’s Day prizes from AFEW and Contex.
Posted on 16 Feb 2006

Moldova parliament examines ‘Stylish, Comfortable, Safe’ informational campaign
On 8 February 2006, the Moldavian Parliamentary Committee on Social Protection, Health and Family conducted special parliamentary hearings devoted to discussing the informational campaign ‘Stylish, Comfortable, Safe’ launched by AFEW in Moldova. The hearings were initiated by the chief of the committee after he received 12 letters protesting the campaign and an order from the Chairman of the Parliament to clarify the situation. During the hearings, representatives from the Ministry of Health brought forth statistics showing high rates of abortion and HIV/STI infection among people aged 15–19. AFEW representatives presented the results of research demonstrating that young people in Moldova practice unprotected sex at a very young age. AFEW representatives gave the committee examples of campaigns worldwide that have had a positive impact by providing young people with complete information giving them the necessary tools to make more informed decisions. The deputies participating all received copies of the campaign materials. After the hearings, the deputies’ reservations about the campaign were appeased and they agreed that the campaign materials were important for HIV prevention and should be distributed to Moldavian youth.
Posted on 15 Feb 2006

Gay Alliance and AFEW support gay photo exhibition in Kyiv
From 14 to 20 February, ‘Cyber’, a gay club in Kyiv, hosted a photo exhibition displaying the work of photographer Vlad Likhovidov from the ‘One of Us’ magazine collection. The exhibition opened on Valentine’s Day with the slogan: ‘Love beautifully and take care of safety’. During the exhibition, social workers from the Gay Alliance distributed informational materials about how to prevent HIV and other STIs. This event took place in the framework of the project aimed at HIV prevention and health promotion among men having sex with men, which is being carried out by the Gay Alliance and AFEW.
Posted on 14 Feb 2006

AFEW delivered prevention materials to penal institutions in five Russian regions
In January 2006 AFEW’s Health Promotion and HIV Prevention project organised bulk deliveries of prevention materials and computer equipment to the penal institutions in five regions taking part in the GLOBUS project (Tver, Tomsk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Pskov regions and Krasnoyarskiy krai). The penal institutions received disinfecting materials, disposable gloves and syringes for medical departments and condoms for meeting rooms. This delivery will make sure that the penal institutions in those regions are equipped for the whole year ahead. In February and March AFEW is going supply five other regions of the GLOBUS project with prevention materials and computer equipment.
Posted on 2 Feb 2006

Nation-wide mass media solidarity campaign was launched in Russia
On 26 January, FOCUS-MEDIA Foundation, with advisory support from AFEW, launched a new mass media campaign entitled ‘BE HUMANE!’. The main goal of the campaign is to increase tolerance towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Russia. ‘We all know what it is like to feel offended and humiliated when we are treated unfairly. Among us, there are people who experience such feelings all of the time. People avoid shaking hands with them and refuse to socialise with them or employ them simply because they have HIV’, the campaign message says. As part of the GLOBUS project (Global Effort Against HIV/AIDS in Russia), this campaign has been launched in Moscow and by the end of January, it will be launched in 10 other regions of Russia, namely Krasnoyarsk, Tatarstan, St. Petersburg, Buryatiya, Nizhniy Novgorod, Pskov, Orenburg, Vologda, Tomsk and Tver.

Press release >>
Posted on 26 Jan 2006

AFEW launches a survey among the website visitors
AFEW is conducting a survey to determine visitors’ opinion about the website in order for it to better serve their needs. Information gained from the survey will help make the website more informative and easy to use. The first 100 respondents will receive a special book of photo essays by photographer John Ranard as a gift of appreciation.
Posted on 23 Jan 2006

AFEW holds first training in Ulan-Ude for HIV-positive women
AFEW’s Care and Support team conducted an educational seminar in Ulan-Ude for HIV-positive women (26-28 December) — the first such seminar that AFEW specialists held in Buratya. In the course of the three-day training, women received core information on HIV/AIDS, ARV therapy, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and effective communication skills. The training also included a practicum on adherence to ARV therapy. The women followed a strict ‘medication’ regimen, in which pills were replaced by small pill-sized candies. After this unconventional practicum, the participants talked about the kinds of problems they have run into and discussed possible ways of resolving them. They also addressed the problem of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and tried to come up with ways of overcoming stigmatisation. All the participants were pleased with the information they received during the seminar. They said that not only is the information practical for their own lives, but that through everyday interaction and self-help groups, they can pass it along to others who need it.
Posted on 12 Jan 2006