Press Release

Over 250 people from 7 federal districts of Russian Federation took part in the conference. Delegates of the conference represented about 200 NGOs working in the area of HIV/AIDS response in the country.

Such topics as primary HIV prevention, work with youth, challenges of people living with HIV, men having sex with men and others were discussed. Discussions were geared towards identifying ways of improving reaching Universal Access goals. Round tables dedicated to optimization of collaboration between NGOs and governmental structures for reaching Universal Access goals were held.

Issues of interaction and collaboration of representatives of NGOs, governmental structures, mass media and business community for improving the situation in the area of HIV/AIDS response were widely debated. Particularly, lack of specific information programmes for women, lack of quality and efficient counseling were named among the challenges.

Time was allocated for discussion of sustainability and development issues, plenaries of UN agencies and other international organizations were held. Presentations of All Russian Harm Reduction Network, All Russian Union of People Living with HIV, Forum of NGOs working in the area of HIV/AIDS in RF, Y-peer Network (youth “Peer to Peer” network), All Russian nongovernmental organization “Russian Red Cross”, International Treatment Preparedness Coalition in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ITPCru), LaSky project in the framework of PSI work were made.

The conference has clearly proved the readiness of civil society for active_en involvement, as well as availability of great accumulated experience, willingness to collaborate for the sake of reaching common goals.