Subject: EuroCASO Newsletter #3 of 92 Date: Nov 1992 (2491 lines) &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& E u r o C A S O a newsletter from Europe &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& EuroCASO Newsletter 3/92 November ICASO, EuroCASO, Networks, ASOs, self help groups -- we are all here! WHAT WE NEED NOW IS AUTHORITIES COMMITMENT Read the Nightmare on page 15 Contents: [items are separated by "*****" for this display] 1 Members 2 News from EuroCASO 3 News from other networks 4 Action now 5 Requests and offers 6 Reports 7 Events EuroCASO Secretariat c/o AIDS HELPLINE N. I. 24 Mount Charles, Belfast BT7 1NZ, UK Tel: + 44 232 249268 Fax: + 44 232 329845 Development Office/ ICASO Europe c/o Pluss Postboks 6879 St. Olavs Plass 0130 Oslo, Norway Tel: + 47 2 114900 Fax: + 47 2 360269 With computer/modem we can communicate through: HIVNET:+ 31 20 6622866 ***** 1 MEMBERS MEMBERS OF EuroCASO EuroCASO has 561 AIDS Service Organisations from 34 European countries on the mailinglist. The following 160 ASOs have signed the charter and they are considered the members of EuroCASO: Austria: Act Up/Koln, Act Up/Wien, HOSI/Wien, OAIDZ. Belgium: Act Up/Brussels, EEC/AIDS Task Force-ASBL, Side info SIDS, Het AIDS Team. Bulgaria: Gemini. Cyprus: Gay Liberation Movment. Czechoslovakia: Ganymedes, M-Klub, Sap/Prague, Sap/Brno, SOHO, Slovak AIDS-Help. Denmark: Aids-linien, AIDS-Info/Fyn, Hiv Danmark, Hiv-gruppen/Arhus, Komkar, LBL. Finland: Positivi Ymdistys. France: Action Treatment, Aides Alsace, Aides Federation Nationale, Aparts, Association Jeunes contre le Sida, Association Didier Seux, Association Catharsis, Infor-SIDA, IRSAS, Laurent Feure, Neuromedia, SIDS SOS Mains Tendures. Georgia: Catharsis. Germany: ADM/Berlin, AIDS-Archiv, AIDS-Hilfe/Frankfurt, AIDS-Hilfe Munster, AIDS-Hilfe Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, AIDS-Hilfe Stuttgart, Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (including 116 local groups), Gay Intern/ Berlin., Gay and lesb. Intern/Munich, Die Andere Welt, Hilfe Information Vermittelung (HIV e.V), IPE, JES/Berlin, Kulturist Plurel, Womens self help/Koln. Greece: Elpida, Kasapi. Hungary: Lambda/Budapest, Pluss. Iceland: Jakvadi Hopurinn. Ireland: Body Positive, Dublin AIDS Alliance. Israel: Israeli AIDS Task Force, Jerusalem AIDS Project. Italy: ARCI Gay Nazionale, Associaziones Solidarieta AIDS (ASA), Circo Arci Gay-Empoli, Joe Coop, LILA Toscana, Positifs. Latvia: Life without AIDS, Centre Intex. Lithuania: Lietuvos AIDS Profilaktios Centras. Malta: Gay Support Group, Haemophilia Society. Netherlands: Buro GVO, Buro Vrouwen en Aids, Health Educ. Centre, HIV Association, GGenGD Denhaag, Metropolink, Muslim Informatiecentrum, SDOS. Malta: Gay Support Group. Norway: African Health Team, Helseutvalget for homofile, Landsforeningen mot aids, PAR, Pluss. Poland: Kochay nie zabijaj, Lambda Czestochowa, Lambda/ Krakow, Lambda Piotrkow Trybunalski, Lambda Women. Portugal: AIEPS, Associacione de Apoio aos Doentes se Sida (AADS), Liga Portugese Contra A Sida. Romania: ARAS. Russia: AIDS Sex Health/ St. Petersburg, Anti-AIDS/St Petersburg, Crocus anti AIDS plus, Krylya, Stop-AIDS/Beldrussia, Stop- AIDS Moscow, St Petersburg Pasteur Institute, Tomsk Anti- AIDS Centre, We and You. Slovenia: Stigma. Spain: ACTUA, Arrels, Associacion Sida-Studi, Comite Ciudadano Anti-Sida, Gais per la salut-Stop Sida, Gay Positivos, Sida de Catalunya, Espana-African Social. Sweden: Convictus, Noahs Ark, RFSL/Aids-Koordination, RFSU, Riksforbundet for Hiv-positiva. Switzerland: Aids Info Docu, Aids-Hilfe Schweiz, Aids-Hilfe Thurgau, Aiuto Aids Ticino, PWA. Turkey: AIDS Prevention Society, Family Planning Ass. United Kingdom: AIDS Helpline N. I., AIDS and Housing Project, BCAT/Leeds, BHAF/Leicester, BHAN/London, Blackliners Helpline, Body Positive Belfast, BP North West, BP Southampt., CARA, Dundee YMCA Drug & AIDS Project, HIV Residency Project, Immunity Legal Centre, Iranian Association, Kokani Muslims, The Lantern Trust, London Lighthouse, Lothian AIDS Support Association, Mainliners, Mersey Body Positive, Michael Foley Associates, National AIDS Manual, National Netw. of BP, Positively Women, The Positive Place, Purely Positive/ Southampton, Scottish AIDS Monitor (SAM), Scottish Drugs Forum, Scot-PEP, Solas HIV/AIDS Resource Centre, The Names Project, The NAZ Project, Terrence Higgins Trust, Turkish Youth Ass. The EuroCASO Contact Committee Austria: Kurt Krickler, OAIDZ/Wien (+43 1 5451310) Belgium: Maurice Cramers, HET AIDS TEAM/Antwerpen (+32 3 2263646) Cyprus: Alexander F. Modinos, AKOK/Nicosia (+357 2 448433) Czechoslovakia: Cyril Dyrc, SAP/Prague (+42 2 409367) Denmark: Bent Hansen, LBL/Copenhagen(+45 33131948) Finland: Kari Ylatalo, Positivi Ymdistys/Helsinki (+358 0 175822) France: Jean Javanni, APARTS/Paris(+33 1 42452424) Germany: Petra Narimani, DAH/Berlin(+49 30 6900870) Hungary: Zsuzsa Szabo, Pluss/Budapest(+36 1 1130219) Ireland: Anne Marie Jones, Cairde/Dublin (+353 1 733799) Italy: David Austin, LILA/Vicenza (+39 444 544352) Lichtenstein: Dietmar Nascher, AHL/Lichtenstein (+ 41 75 20520) Netherlands: Johan W. Westenberg, Hiv Vereniging/ Amsterdam (+31 20 5253403) Norway: Arne N. Husdal, Pluss/Oslo (+47 2 114900) Poland: Jerzy Krzyszpien, Lambda/Krakow (+48 12 432409) Russia: Igor Yevsyukov, Crocus/Moscow (+7 095 4179695) Slovenia: Slavko Gorjup, Stigma/Ljubliana (+38 61 222054) Sweden: Anna Mohr, RFSL/Stockholm (+46 8 7360211) Switzerland: Michael Hausermann, AHS/Zurich (+41 1 4623077) United Kingdom: John McKeever, AIDS Helpline/Belfast (+44 232 249268) Made in Oslo and Belfast This printed product was edited in Oslo and printed in and distributed from Belfast. Grants from WHO/Europe and the EC made it possible. Deadline for the next issue: Jan. 1st. The EuroCASO address list. Any member ASO that wishes to have the entire EuroCASO mailing list, may request one from the Secretariat. ***** 2 NEWS FROM EUROCASO EuroCASO Annual Meeting in Verona 10-13 December The EuroCASO Annual Conference will take place this year in Verona, Italy 10 - 13 December. The advance programme and preliminary information have already been forwarded to all on the EuroCASO mailing list. If, by any chance, your organisation did not receive these documents you may contact the Conference Coordinator, Davide Austin in Vicenza. Variety of experiences and issues The Annual Conference will bring together representatives from community based AIDS service organisations throughout Europe. The possibility of networking with other organisations involved in providing care, support, prevention and treatment services is of tremendous value for all ASOs, and EuroCASO feels it is particularly important to bring together as many different experiences as possible. Both the WHO and the Commission of the EC have given their support to the conference. A practical conference Apart from developing from previous annual meetings and experiences, the conference will this year also offer workshops on practical issues, like safe sex, safe drug use, complementary therapies and topics addressing particular communities. There will be a chance for real skill exchange, not only theoretical visions. English and Italian and late registrations The official languages of the conference will be English and Italian. The translation services will be funded by ANLAIDS, Italy. There are possibilities for late registrations. There is a registration fee, but also scholarships available. More details from the Coordinator in Vicenza. The number of participats will be limited to 250. The EuroCASO business meeting On Sunday 13 December, EuroCASO will hold its Annual General Business meeting. It is open for ASOs who have underwritten the EuroCASO Charter. If any ASO has any particular resolutions it wishes to have approved or voted upon, it is recommended that these be written up and sent to the Conference Coordinator at least one week prior to the meeting. Elections for WC In addition, a new Working Committee (WC) will be elected during the course of the meeting. To guarantee continuity, the present Working Committee recommend that three members will renew their commitment, while the remaining will be up for reelection. The new Working Committee will be composed of two representatives from Northern Europe, two from Eastern Europe and two from Southern Europe. In addition, one person representing the Network of European Self Help Groups will be guaranteed a place on the committee. The members of the new Working Committee will choose amongst themselves who will represent EuroCASO on the ICASO Council of Representatives (also here a certain continuity is desired) and will be free to co-opt other consultants to the new committee. Country Contact Committee Thursday 10 December The volunteer members of the socalled Country Contact Committee (CCC) of EuroCASO (listed on page 2) have been invited to a pre-meeting to the Annual Conference in Verona Thursday 10 December from 12 to 16. The intention of this pre-meeting is to inform the CCC members about the current and future activities, and to evaluate and discuss in what way we can maintain and develop the role of a CCC. By looking at the CCC list on page 2 in this newsletter, you will see what countries we have volunteers from and that we still need CCC-volunteers from some European countries. We would like to include all European countries at the CCC-meeting, and consequently to the Annual Meeting as a whole. The 1992 EuroCASO Annual Meeting Coordination Office: Davide Austin LILA Via S. Biagio, 45 36100 Vicenza Tel/fax: + 39 444 544352 Drug use issues in focus Drug use needs particular attention, especially in Southern Europe. For this reason it was decided to invite EIGDU (the European Interest Group of Drug Users) to hold their Annual Meeting in conjunction with the EuroCASO Conference in Verona this year. In this way, it will be possible to highlight the concerns of drug users and to facilitate contacts between representatives of EIGDU with ASOs who would like to expand their activities to include communities of drug users. HIV/AIDS related networks invited to participate EuroCASO wants to underline the importance of wide and open cooperation between various communities by inviting representatives from other identity based or task oriented networks that exist in Europe; such as ACT UP, EATG, EIGDU, ILGA, GNPL+, European Self Help Groups, HIVNET, the Network of Sexwork Related HIV/AIDS Project, Women living with HIV and the Muslim and South Asian Communities (for explanation of abbreviations see the next section of this newsletter). AIDS Helpline NI on the move The current EuroCASO Secretariat has moved from Bryson House in central Belfast to a more safe enviorment in a student quarter in Belfast. This move does not only provide more and better space for the four full time workers and some forty volunteers, and for the services the Helpline wants to offer. It hopefully also marks an end to the horrendous bomb attacks that have hit their former offices twice the last year. This newsletter wants to congratulate the Helpline with the new premises and wish you all the luck in the future. The new address on the front page. 24 Mount Charles Belfast BT7 1NZ Northern Ireland The telephone and fax numbers are as before. Charter translations The EuroCASO Development officer has received the Charter translated into Finnish, French, German, Italian and Polish. We hope to receive even more translations... Twinning projects EuroCASO has a design finished to carry out twinning partnership projects. The project will be effective as soon as the Secretariat has found sufficient funding sources for it. However, as you can see from the latest newsletters, ASOs already request twinning partners and you can establish your own projects as soon as you find suitable partners. The EuroCASO Development Officer is ready to advise and assist in any way. ***** 3 OTHER NETWORKS Lack of funds hinder the functions of ICASO More than what is the case for EuroCASO, the other four regions of ICASO are at the moment as good as paralysed because of lack of sufficient funding. There is not even funds available to hire one post at each secretariat although the aim of ICASO is that each region has at least two full time posts. This situation makes it very difficult to carry out all the tasks ICASO finds necessary. To conquer this situation with serious means, a complete White Paper on ICASO and a document for fund raising purposes are being produced. There is no doubt that there are funds available in the world, both within the multi-national agencies and private fund raising institutions. And there is also no doubt that ICASO represents a potential cooperationpartner to the programmes and ideals described in numerous official documents and resolutions. At the moment this tool of networking and activating the grass root communities, is at a standstill. All potential donors and cooperation partners will be approached as soon as ICASOs documentation papers are ready. People with HIV on ICASO COR According to a decision made at the ICASO Council of Representative (COR) meeting in Singapore in February 1992, two representatives of the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNLP+) have been invited to join the ICASO COR. The two have been chosen by the GNLP+, and they are Noel Pillay of South Africa and Henry Ardila of Columbia. This means that all ICASO regions are represented also by people with HIV. Berlin Conference: Your input needed The preparations for the next scientific AIDS conference, the follow-up of the Amsterdam conference, in Berlin in June 1993 have begun. The Deutsche AIDS- Hilfe has been given a central role to coordinate all NGO activities and input and several people have been employed for this task. The International Steering Committee has for the first time been completed with representatives both from ICASO, the GNLP+ and the Network of Women Living with HIV/AIDS. All of this gives an opportunity for an even better contribution and participation than in Amsterdam by affected communities. Both the ICASO Central Secretariat in Ottawa and the Berlin Conference NGO Secretariat ask for inputs, ideas, names and suggestions for activities, topics, workshops and seminars during the Berlin Conference. There is no time to loose. You will find the Ottawa address (Richard Burzynski) on the front page of this newsletter; for Berlin please contact: Jeffrey Stanton Berlin Conference Office Deutche AIDS-Hilfe Dieffenbachstrasse 33 D-1000 Berlin GERMANY Tel: + 49 30 690087 0 Fax: + 49 30 690087 42 ***** DIRECTORIES ON ITS WAY -- 1 AND 2 1 Archiv fur Sozialpolitik in Frankfurt has completed their German version of the directory of AIDS Service Organisations in Europe. Congratulations! Having scanned the seven volumes of the directory, it contains more addresses than EuroCASO would define as community based AIDS service organisations. It also gives answers to 27 questions about the organisations or institutions, about their status, size, structure, activities and services. However, this does not reduce the quality of the directory. On the contrary it is an excellent piece of material which should be very useful to anybody who work in the international field of HIV/AIDS. The funder of the directory is Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe. EuroCASO does not know at this point what funds are available for copying, translating or distributing this directory. We recommend that your request is addressed either to DAH-Berlin (see address above) or directly to Frankfurt: Archiv fur Sozialpolitik Bronnerstrasse 9 6000 Frankfurt a.M. 1 GERMANY Tel: + 49 69 296797 Fax: + 49 69 289181 2 European Centre in Vienna who intends to bring a more thorough and scientifically based directory of ASOs in Europe and country reports on NGO activities, report that the directories for nine European countries will be completed and available to EuroCASO by the end of 1992. The country reports are also nearly finished. They will be published in a book during the months of April-June 1993. The European Centre has recognised the need to produce a concept which is possible to update and continue. Something which will be useful both to EuroCASO members and to the WHO who funds the project. Nord-all Meeting 1992: Nordic people with HIV alarmed about laws 65 people with HIV, representing 2080 members of self help groups and organisations from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden held their Annual Meeting (Nord-all) in Helsinki/Finland 14-16 August. The Nordic people with HIV are still complaining about the discriminitory legislation in Sweden and about a similar legislation which is to be introduced in Norway soon. A court decision in Finland also upset the participants. EAGT The European AIDS Treatment Group - task oriented - involves individuals representing ASOs - European network Contact address: Matthias Wienold Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe Dieffenbachstrasse 33 1000 Berlin 61 GERMANY Tel: + 49 30 6900870 Fax: + 49 30 69008742 You are invited ! After the second meeting of the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) in Berlin in February, the group concluded: EATG needs not only financial, but also personal support which will enable the group to act as a service organisation for people with HIV or AIDS. To date there is a failure of national drug research and approval systems to produce results of clinical and therapeutic value that match the scale, character and urgency of the HIV epidemic. Therefore, the goals of the EATG were defined as follows: * To achieve effective treatment and access to experimental therapies for as many people with HIV as soon as possible, and * To enable people with HIV to have maximum control over the treatment and research agenda. The following recommendations came out of this (abstracts): 1. Research priorities and ethics As described in the European AIDS Treatment Agenda, the present structure of research in Europe does not meet the needs of people with HIV regarding access to drugs, ethical standards and the efficient production of answers. 2. Access to information The group is committed to access to information on treatments and research for people with HIV, regardless of geographical or demographical factors. Priorities include early access to research results, information on alternative therapies, and information on ongoing trials. The EATG resolves to produce a newsletter (editor's remark: The EATG Newsletter which already has been issued four times) and a directory on trials and drugs on a European level. 3. Access to medical services Due to social and geographical inequities, there is uneven access to treatments, especially, for example, for women, minorities, people in detention, drug users or people living with HIV in rural areas. The EATG urges that all people with HIV should have equal access to appropriate treatment and medical services. 4. Access to experimental drugs In Europe, there is a very limited access to many experimental drugs compared with the US. Failure to provide access through trials and expanded access schemes encourages the development of underground black market drugs, whose quality may be uncontrolled. The EATG urges the implication of readily accessible expanded access schemes for experimental drugs whose safety and efficacy has already been indicated. This should be actively developed and supported. 5. Pan-European communication There is limited communication between ASOs, both within countries and between different people with HIV on the research process is to be maximised, particularly as research is increasingly conducted on a European-wide level. At present, the only forum where European communication on treatment issues is taking place is the EATG. General information: The EATG board of Directors consists of Matthias Wienold and Stephan Dressler, Berlin and Jonathan Grimshaw, London. Representatives from 13 countries are on the board. EATG is finacially supported by the EC. Anybody affected by the HIV epidemic and members of ASOs may join the group. Personal inputs will very much be appreciated. EuroCASO members are welvome to subscribe to the EATG Newsletter. An EATG Agenda is also available. EIGDU: The European Interest Group of Drug Users The European Working Party on HIV-affected Drug Users - identity network - individuals and groups involved - European network Contact addresses: Secretariat Jeannine Van Woerkom Legmeerplein 7 1058 NJ Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS Tel/fax: + 31 20 617 8192 Werner Hermann Co-chair Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe/JES Dieffenbachstrasse 33 1000 Berlin 61 GERMANY Tel: + 49 30 6900870 Fax: + 49 30 69008742 Andrea Efthimiou Board member 106c Agar Grove London NW1 9TY UK Tel: + 44 71 916 5097 Fax: + 44 71 284 0185 Thanks for your support! EIGDU wants to thank the EC, LILA/Italy and EuroCASO for their financial and organisational support towards the workshops on drug use held in Italy during 1992. This report is from the first workshop on self help initiatives by drug users and ex- users held in Foggia in May. Participants included many Italian ex-users, members of EIGDU, two Italian physicians, and a varied assortment of counsellors and social workers. There was also a member of a totally abstinent "self help group" which exists accross the globe! A summary of some of the major points of the workshop: * There is a difference between self help groups, interest groups and obviously professional direct service organisations, though the difference between the first two can be unclear. Often an interest group includes professionals collaborating with drug users, whereas most self help groups just include the peer group itself. This raises issues of autonomy v. integration. * There is an incredible diversity of all these within the AIDS & drug field, ranging from complete abstinent groups in and out of the community to groups which include active drug injectors. It must be known that it isn't always possible for ex-users to mingle freely with current users for fear of relapse; sometimes though this fear seems to become a little morbid ex- users seemingly despising current users... * Interest groups may take on political issues, lobbying health authorities and governments for better health care for drug injectors and drug users in general, plus trying to affect long term changes in a country's drug policy. * There is no reason why a drug user cannot work within ASOs if they feel up to it, which usually means stable or regular drug use or actually finished with addiction. If this is the case, they may decide to set up worker/ex-user support groups to work through some of the stressful issues and they do not necessarily have to do frontline work. * The role of professional organisations (ASOs) can be to accomodate self help groups, and provide administrative support until the group is large enough, financially and organisationally to go on alone. We wish more ASOs were motivated towards this. * Chaotic users also have a role to play even if they are not relied on. Drug addicts are brilliant and have very high standards and value systems, and they can learn from the experience of their generally more politicized gay compatriats. Perhaps the gay drug users can be the mediators between the two communities. Also, if for any reason people cannot celebrate their differences, or be interested in each others paths enough to work together, they needn't feel guilty, but again just do what they can. Sometimes the best we can do is acknowledge, and accept our own limits. * Financial contributions for drug users who want to organise themselves can come from international, national and regional bodies such as WHO, EEC and obviously some ASOs. One needs to be able to articulate clearly the aims and goals of the project one is undertaking. Also multi-national pharmaceutical companies should be approached, this also goes for pop stars. One should be aware that if WHO wants to sponsor a project, this sets limitations to what other bodies one can approach, as WHO have to be seen to be neutral arbiters. Other information: The report from Foggia has been shortened a bit. A full report will probably be available in the next EIGDU newsletter. Two issues of the EIGDU newsletter have so far been published. The EuroCASO newsletter hopes to report from the other three drug use workshops held in Italia this year, in our next issue. EIGDU will hold their Annual Meeting together with the EuroCASO Annual Meeting in Verona 10-13 December. The main item on the agenda will be to complete the memorandum on country reports on the conditions for drug users in Europe. More information Werner Hermann in Berlin. Werner Hermann reports about the formation of a global network of IDUs. IDUN (The Intravenous Drug Users Network) was formed in Melbourne, Australia in February. There are contact persons in every continent, W. H. is the European contact person. The European Self Help Groups and Organisations - identity network - exclusively pwHIV/AIDS - groups and organisations involved - European network Contact address: Ulrich Doms Positiv e.V. Waldschlosschen 3407 Reinhausen bei Gottingen GERMANY Tel: + 49 551 43735 Fax: + 49 559 21792 Successful First European Meeting of Self Help Groups for PlwHIV/AIDS The first European Meeting of Positive Groups and Organisations, which took place June 18-22 in Waldschlosschen near Gottingen in Germany, was a success. This was the unanimous impression among the 65 participants, representing more than 40 groups from 22 European countries and 9 HIV related networks. The host organisation was "Positiv e.V.", the group that organises the German federal meetings for people living with HIV. The meeting was supported by EuroCASO, Buntstift e.V., the European Commission, the WHO, Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe and Welcome Foundation. Representatives from WHO, the European Commission and the European Parliament were present as guests and gave important input during the discussions. After a game session the first evening, to get to know each other, the first day was dedicated to presenting the various kinds of self help groups and to discuss experiences and future visions for the self help development. On the second day we focused on the existing HIV related networks in relation to people with HIV, and how to make use of them. Several short resolutions came out of the meeting process. The meeting forced representatives of the networks to articulate the needs and wishes expressed by the participants to bring back to their networks. In addition a few general issues were put together in a statement. The meeting ended with an all night party and I think that everybody was aware that these days, which had brought together people with HIV/AIDS from every corner of Europe, had been a very special occasion to share experiences and hopes for the future. Positiv e.V. and the AIDS-Archives Frankfurt are compiling a documentation which will be ready for the EuroCASO Annual Meeting. This report will document the history, the course and results of the meeting and, in addition, attempt to give an overview of the present situation for self help gruops in Europe. It contains self descriptions of positive groups and HIV related networks and thus, as we hope, will facilitiate the future cooperation of positive groups and networks and encourage people with HIV/AIDS all over Europe to become engaged in self help work. We did not form another institution. Instead, we agreed to make better use of the existing networks, among those especially EuroCASO. Excerpts from the resolutions: ACT UP - should investigate the possibility of common actions in European countries. - should meet more to develop strategies to influence policy on a European level. - should computerise (modernise) the way of communicating, i.e. use HIVNET and others. - should make use of other networks, such as EuroCASO, to communicate the philosophy of ACT UP and announce and report on actions to self help groups and ASOs. - should make use of the offer of communication through the EuroCASO newsletter. - should attract more people with HIV by informing them about all possible levels of participation (people can participate on less "risky" issues and levels). - should develop actions and support on "new" important issues: drug users, prisons, women, immigrants, stimulate people where there are no AIDS actions at all, put international pressure on pharmaceutical companies, demand scientific research into the effects of methadone. EIGDU calls upon - - ACT UP to include drug user issues into their actions. - EATG, to include HIV+ drug users in the networks projects. To provide as much information about methadone treatment in each country as possible and to work for removing discrimination in treatment of drug users. - own members to exchange experiences and to relate to the networks mentioned in this resolution. - EuroCASO to act as a catalysator and relay and provide opportunities for self help, information and cooperation of people with HIV/AIDS. Drug users should be part of all important decision processes of EuroCASO. - ILGA to investigate what they can do for gay and lesbian drug users. - GNPL+ to keep on organising regional and international conferences for people with HIV/AIDS and make sure that the next one be held in Mexico. - the Sexwork Related Network to include drug using sexworkers. - Women with HIV to recognise that most women with HIV in Europe are drug users. - EC and WHO to keep on funding the EIGDU activities. - this meeting to use it as a model for future meetings for the networks. EuroCASO is recommended to ensure - - that all participating self help groups are included in the EuroCASO mailing list. - that a separate mailing list for self help groups be developed and made accessible to all self help groups. - that the self help groups are offered their own page in the EuroCASO newsletter. - that self help groups will be given wide representation at the Annual Meeting in Verona and at future meetings. - that structure for election of the working committee within EuroCASO secures representation for self help groups. - that a computer bulletin be developed. - that an annual meeting for self help groups in Europe be made a permanent pre-meeting to the EuroCASO Annual Meeting. - that there is more focus on human rights issues and that representatives of self help groups are included in this process. - that twinning projects are developed with emhasis on self help groups. ILGA is recommended - - to establish a mechanism for cooperation on HIV issues with HIV and identity oriented international networks. - to appoint a key-person who can be contacted by other international networks and can coordinate communication within ILGA. - to continue to be active in human right issues which people with HIV/AIDS, drug users, sexworkers and other affected communities have in common with lesbians and gays. - to discuss the cooperation between the lesbian and gay organisations and HIV oriented organisations on local and national levels - to improve the flow of information from the ILGA members with regard to HIV/AIDS issues and activities. The International Steering Committee for People with HIV/AIDS (ISC+) is called upon to - set up a permanent secretariat for communication and fundraising and consider changing its name to something more appropriate than "steering committee". - to tackle the issues of unrealistic expectations by self help groups in developing countries with regard to what support self help groups in developed countries can offer to them. - to organise regional conferences and a world PWA/HIV conference in alternating years. Women with HIV/AIDS demand that - - the WHO provide guidelines for treatments for women (e.g. frequency of cervical smears). - EuroCASO dedicates one full page to women's issues, and send the newsletter to all the organisations in the women's network. - EATG to lobbies researchers to conduct trials into: * clinical manifistations of HIV in women (i.e. cervical cancer, candida, PID). * vertical transmission in pregnancy. * the effects of medication on the unborn child. * and to stop excluding pregnant women from trials. - that WHO and EC provide funds to the international women's network. - that the EIGDU dedicates part of the European drug policy report to female drug users. - that the ISC+ provides adequate space within the conference programme for women's issues and that women are involved in the discussions and conference planning. - that Act Up organises and continues with more actions on women's demands, plus makes efforts to find out what women need in different countries. - that the sexworkers network encourages the election of women with HIV/AIDS at future meetings. - ILGA addresses the issues of lesbian and bisexual HIV- infected women and supports them. - the Heamophilia Society provides support to the infected and affected female partners of HIV infected haemophiliacs. - that the media provide accurate information, including medical, on women and HIV/AIDS. - men and women with responsibility and power within the AIDS movement stay informed of women's needs, and use their power to promote policies which are good for women. - that men take equal responsibility for safer sex and for the use of condoms. Resolution addressed to the organisers of international AIDS conferences: We recommend - that people with HIV should be invited to speak at opening and closing plenaries. - that pwHIV should be represented in the organizing stage and be included in the decision making process concerning the contents of the conference. - that abstract of all tracks should reflect and address the realistic situation and the problems of all pwHIV. - that pwHIV should should be invited to participate in all seminars and discussions that relate to their life situations and they should be offered extensive travel subsidies, scholarships and support to enable them to attend these conferences, in particular those from developing countries and that national AIDS committees that travel to these conferences should include at least one pwHIV. GNPL+ Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS - identity network - exclusively pwHIV/AIDS - individual involvement - World wide network Contact addresses (board members): Isabelle Defeu De Witte Raven Schijfwerperstraat 145 2020 Antwerpen BELGIUM Phone: + 32 3 828 6900 Fax: + 32 3 231 5804 Arne N. Husdal Pluss Postboks 6879 St. Olavs pl. 0130 Oslo NORWAY Tel: + 47 2 114900 Fax: + 47 2 360269 John Mordaunt 205 Stockwell Road London SW9 9SL UK Tel: + 44 71 737 7472 Fax: + 44 71 737 3361 Mexico Conference next year This is not a new network, but a new name. It was changed from "The International Steering Committee for People with HIV/AIDS (ISC+)" during the Amsterdam AIDS Conference in July. This marks a change also in structure and activities of the network. Previously the ISC+ has been known for organising the international conferences for people with HIV/AIDS. It all started in London back in 1987, Munich (88), Copenhagen (89), Madrid (90) and returned to London in 1991. The first formal ISC+ was elected in London last year. The mandate was to make sure that the tradition of organising international conferences was continued. It was decided to move the next conference out of Europe for the first time, to Mexico. In Amsterdam the ISC+ decided that the mandate should be extended to work on advocacy issues and other international issues on a general basis also between conferences. It was also decided to set up a permanent secretariat and employ a professional fund raiser in London. The Committee changed from having a flat structure into a Board of hierachical structure. Out of the Board, five members forms the new Management Committee. Cindy Robins, Canada was appointed President, with Noel Pillay, South Africa, Vice President. None of the Europeans is part of the new MC. Rosaria Jardino of Italy has withdrawn from the Board. Replacement from Europe is Isabelle Defeu from Antwerpen/Belgium, appointed by the International Community of Women living with HIV. The Mexico Conference has been postponed a couple of times already, due to lack of funds. The GNPL+ aims to organise it after the Berlin AIDS Conference, hopefully in September next year. There is not yet any official address for the Secretariat. The Board will meet in South Africa in January. Wise before their time -- report from London A 50 page full report from the Fifth International Conference for People with HIV/AIDS in London called "From victim to victor", is available through the GNPL+ member in London. This report was edited and completed by Ann Richardson. Ann Richardson is together with Dietmar Bolle also author of a book which has been published recently; "Wise before their time - People with HIV and AIDS talk about their lives". As the title tells, this is a collection of stories told by people directly affected by the epidemic -- the interviews were done during the London Conference. Here are the voices of people with HIV/AIDS from more than 20 countries. We recommend this collection of testimonies, it can be found in bookstores or ordered from: Harper Collins Publishers, Dept 5G, Westerhill Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow G64 2QT, UK. The price is $6. ***** HIVNET - computer network - open to anybody - World wide network Contact address: Heleen Riper HIVNET Postbus 15874 1001 NH Amsterdam NETHERLANDS Tel: + 31 20 664 4076 Fax: + 31 20 681 1504 Connection with HIVNET BBS with modem/computer: Amsterdam + 31 20 6622866 Limburg + 31 45 231754 What is HIVNET ? An introduction on how to overcome your technofobia HIVNET is a network of computer bulletin board systems for HIV and AIDS information and communication. It started in 1990 in the Netherlands by a group of enthusiatic volunteers, each of whom, for their own reason, is involved with HIV and AIDS. At the moment HIVNET is becoming a worldwide network, with nodes in Europe (the Netherlands, Paris, London, Portugal) and with connections in the United States. As the name implies, a bulletin board system (BBS) works in a similar manner to a real bulletin board, on which everyone can leave and read messages. On a daily basis information is exchanged with other BBS's. HIVNET is also connected with the great international research networks. Anyone can ask questions, express opinions, and all for free, exept for the cost of phoning. If the message is placed within the socalled public area, people from all over the world can read it and respond to it. It is also possible to send private and personal messages through protected files. Organisations can also communicate in this manner, and we are able to set up discussion areas for special groups within the BBS. In addition to these messages and ongoing discussions, HIVNET offers a treasure of information about the latest in medication, trials, conferences and other developments. HIVNET also offers a library of the leading national and international magazines, often available faster than the printed versions. Among these is the EuroCASO newsletter. How to use HIVNET It is easy to contact HIVNET, even for people who are not used to computers. You need three components: a computer, a modem connected to the telephone network and a communication software programme. Modems have become relatively inexpensive all over Europe, and they are easy to use. It is possible to contact HIVNET with an alias (pseudonym). We pay the highest attention to the privacy of all our users. Who can use HIVNET? In theory HIVNET is open to everyone. It is intended, however, particularly for those who in one way or another are involved in the situation concerning HIV/AIDS: * People who are personally involved, such as people with HIV, lovers, buddies, friends and relatives. * People who are professionally involved, such as caregivers, health- and social- workers, researchers and others. * Organisations and institutions, in particular ASOs, hospitals, social services and interest groups and networks. The HIVNET Foundation Amsterdam also organizes information and educational workshops. We plan to organise a workshop at the EuroCASO Annual Meeting in Verona in December. This information is very short and general. It is our aim, however, to inform ASOs on a general basis through this newlsetter in the future. This allows us to work out the issues mentioned in this article more in detail, as well as to react and learn from your questions and suggestions. Please feel free to contact us, either directly by phone, by fax or through the HIVNET BBS. ILGA International Lesbian and Gay Association - identity network - groups and individual membership - World and European network European addresses and contacts: Information Secretariat 81, Marche-au-Charbon B-1000 Brussels 1 BELGIUM Tel/fax: + 32 2 5022471 Women's Secretariat c/o LBL F-48 Knabrostrade 3 DK-1007 Copenhagen K DENMARK Tel: + 45 33131948 John Clark Secretary General Scheugasse 12/18 A-1100 Vienna AUSTRIA EuroCASO contact: Lisa Power LLGS BM Switchboard London WC1N 3XX ENGLAND Tel: + 44 71 222 7799 Fax: + 44 71 799 2339 AIDS Policy adopted ILGA has adopted a declaration on HIV & AIDS policy. It consists of three parts; a preamble, internal commitments and external commitments. We will not print the whole document here, only mention a few important points. The whole statement is available from the ILGA Information Secretariat in Brussels (see above). * Gay men and sometimes lesbians are perceived as "AIDS carriers" and subject to increased discrimination and violence through unfounded fears and ignorance. Bisexual men and women are viewed as "conduits" for the virus between sexual groups and subject to similar discrimination. * Many inter-governmental organisations, governments and health or social care agencies neglect the health care needs of our communities within the epidemic through homophobia, moral cowardice and political expediency. * Many inter-governmental organisations, governments and health and social care agencies fail to use the expertise and knowledge of their local lesbian and gay communities in planning their campaigns against the epidemic. * All ILGA conferences should be made accessible to people living with HIV and AIDS through the provision of suitable health care, accommodation and food. People living with HIV and AIDS will be included in groups prioritised for any available subsidised places. * All ILGA conferences will encourage participants to bring information on prevention, care and treatment initiatives in their own areas. All member groups will be encouraged to disseminate materials they produce on HIV and AIDS to all member groups wherever possible. All organising groups will be expected to provide access to condoms and other safer sex materials as appropriate for participants. * ILGA will seek to encourage member groups to become involved in local and national work in support of people living with HIV and AIDS and to prevent further spread of the virus, where they are not already so involved. A third European Homosexuality and HIV Conference ? ILGA has been involved in the two first European HIV and Homosexuality conferences, in Copenhagen 1990 and Amsterdam 1992. There are plans for a third conference to be held in London in 1994. This time the organisers stress the following conditions for it to come together; there must be a clear demand and need for it to happen expressed by ILGA members and ASOs. In order to find out, a questionnaire has been made. Any gay/lesbian group is asked to fill it in and return it to London by 15 December. Return address: Lisa Power, London (see above). Organisation............................................ Country................................................. Type of work............................................ Address................................................. Did your group go to Copenhagen 1990.......... Amsterdam 1992.......... Are you interested in such a conference in London 1994.. Should it be (please tick) lesbians only / gay only / lesbian, gay, bisexual / open to heterosexual / other................ Please tick topic areas your group would be interested in: Treatment isues, safer sex, sexual health, medical research, living with HIV, transmission & risk, drugs, human rights, bereavement, international cooperation, parenting, being a carer, making leaflets and posters, sex work issues, peer education, censorship, gay issues, lesbian issues, bisexual issues, self help for plHIV, working with governments, religion, families, organisation building, others: * The Association will liaise with other NGOs working on HIV and AIDS, including ICASO, its regional networks, the International AIDS Society and the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS. * The Association will liaise with organisations representing other groups with particular concerns around HIV and AIDS, such as drug users, sex workers, haemophiliacs, women, people of colour and youth. * The Association will seek through information and action to promote the work of lesbian and gay communities on HIV and AIDS and to encourage governmental and NGO consultation of these communities. Do you/your group want to offer a workshop or skill, what? Please tick styles of work you think the conference should use (and cross any you think we should not use): workshops lectures panels plenaries plenary speeches exhibition space caucuses practical demonstrations wall posters women only sessions men only sessions others:....................................................... Should the conference be: in central London outside London on a residential site **** The International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS - identity network - exclusively for pwHIV/AIDS - individual involvement - World wide network Contact addresses (European representatives): Coordinating office Kate Thomson Positively Women 5 Sebastian Street London EC1V OHE UK Tel: + 44 71 490 5515 Fax: + 44 71 490 1690 Hannah Jansen HIV Association PO Box 115847 1001 NH Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS Tel: + 31 20 6644076 Lone Stange Nielsen HIV Danmark Vingaardsstrade 22 1070 Copenhagen DENMARK Tel: + 45 3332 5868 Fax: + 45 3391 5004 ***** Women with HIV/AIDS ready for action At the IV International Conference of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Madrid 1990 the small number of women who attended recognised the importance of staying in touch, and a small, informal network developed. At the London Conference in September 1991 the network grew. In July 1992 members of the network living in the Netherlands organised a pre-conference prior to the AIDS Conference, and over fifty women from thirty countries worldwide were able to attend. At this meeting the women decided that the links we had made needed to be formalised within a set structure in order that lines of communication did not break down. We continued to meet daily throughout the conference to discuss how the network might work, and were joined by other positive women who had not been at the pre-conference. In the end women living with HIV from 33 countries had come together. Regional representatives from all the world continents were elected. As well as working locally, these representatives communicate through the coordinating office which for the moment is in London. We eventually hope to produce our own newsletter. Calls and requests for information or help are already coming in fast and furiously and more women, representing more countries are joining the network each week. The coordinating office will eventually move from region to region every couple of years. The network has no funding yet, but here is a list of some of the things we hope to achieve: * To establish a base office with full time staff to coordinate the network and be the central point for receiving, relaying and updating information. * To produce and distribute a newsletter, free of charge to all members of the network. * To act as an information resource for HIV positive women wishing to set up self help groups and support groups. * To compile and regularly update an international directory of organisations, groups and individuals working specifcally with women living with HIV/AIDS. * To keep an international mailing list so HIV positive women may be able to make contact and find support while travelling. * To set up a library/database of all relevant literature available on women and HIV/AIDS. * To support HIV positive women in setting up education and prevention programmes in their own countries/communities. * To establish and maintain links with a wide rage of non HIV related organisations in order that we may work collaboratively towards breaking down the barriers which marginalise women living with HIV/AIDS. * To ensure that HIV positive women are represented at all levels of decision making, policy development, development of services and research which are likely to have an impact on our lives. * To work together with the organisers of national and international conferences to ensure that women living with HIV are properly represented. * To work together with existing networks such as the GNPL+, the Network of Sex Related HIV/AIDS Projects, ICASO, EuroCASO, EIGDU, in order to promote the interests of all people living with HIV and affected communities on a global scale. Kate Thomson (sign) Other information: The women living with HIV made an impressive manifestation during the Amsterdam AIDS Conference, showing that the pre- conference absolutely resulted in empowerment among the participating women. It also shows that investing in gatherings for affected communities, is well spent money, with considerable pay off. The EuroCASO Secretariat has also received another letter from London, from Emily Scharf representing a subcommittee of the England based network of women living with HIV/AIDS. We cannot bring the whole letter here, only abstracts from the four major points: The letter is a call for information and support on issues for HIV and women. Firstly, they react to the current AIDS definition and the absence of any woman specific conditions plus the HIV related illness classification which again doesn't include women specific conditions. They ask ASOs to report on any knowledge about this issue in their country. Secondly, they demonstrate the need for research on how HIV affects women. And they want to know how this is dealt with in other countries in Europe. Thirdly, they discuss the situation around anonymous testing of pregnant women and of children. Also here they ask for reports from other countries. Lastly, they focus on universal/mandatory named HIV testing (screening) of all pregnant women and want to know about what kind of debate is going on around this question around Europe. More than anything this committee wants to have contact with people who are concerned in these areas, and here is the address: Emily Scharf 40 Milton park London N6 5QA UK Tel: + 44 81 340 4722 (This newsletter is also interested in following the development of the matter.) ***** Act Up! is invited ACT UP! has also been offered space in the EuroCASO newsletter under this Network section. Although Act UP! groups exist in many big cities in Europe (and some are already part of EuroCASO), there seems to be a lack of international coordination between them. We repeat our offer to Act Up!, as we do to any other grass root HIV/AIDS movement or network, to communicate their action plans, needs, offers or information with others through this newsletter. Migrant communities - identity network - groups and individuals involved - European and Asian network Contact address: Shivananda Khan The Naz Project Palingswick House 241 King Street London W6 9LP UK Tel: + 44 81 563 0191 Fax: + 44 81 741 9841 Successful conference for Muslims and South Asians in London in September This conference was the first attempt to bring together individuals and community based organisations from the Muslim and South Asian communities living in Europe, as well as representatives from ASOs both voluntary and statutory, at local and national levels to discuss, share and learn from each other. It arose from the concerns of members of The Naz Project and others that the needs of the Muslim and the South Asian communities of Europe were not being seriously addressed in terms of HIV/AIDS services. With some rare exceptions, what services that do exist are either inadequate, not sufficiently resourced, racist, and imposed on our communities. Our communities are often villified as the source and spread of HIV, rather than the part of the need to address community issues. The different religious, cultural, linguistic and traditional contexts are ignored and sterotypical concepts are reinforced that block HIV/AIDS education and prevention and marginalise treatment and care for those from out communities affected by HIV/AIDS. This bringing together of our peoples was a tremendous success. The Conference recognized the tremendous challenges that lie before us and that we had to remain in contact with each other. The recognition that Europe is now a multi-cultural society should be emphasised across the board and must be part of any agenda on public health or any other local/national/intergovernmental agenda. All we ask is to be treated equally, with dignity and respect as any other member of the nations of Europe. A full report from the workshops and all the recommendations will be available from the Naz project soon. Excerpts from the recommendations: * A new European network must be established for the "migrant" communities which can act as a resource/information base, especially in terms of consultancy, health promotion policy and strategic development, and advocacy. It was also decided that there must be a further conference for 1993 to continue the work of this one. * Such a network must be adequately resourced from the European Commission, WHO Global Programme on AIDS/Europe and National Governments. * This network must also work with the existing networks such as EuroCASO, the Migrants Forum, AIDS and Mobility, Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, in order to ensure that there is an exchange of information and skills, as well as ensuring that the issues of the "migrant" communities are taken on board by these other networks. * "Migrant" communities should be encouraged to develop their own community based AIDS service organisations. * Delegates expressed concern about the terminology of the debate with specific reference to the word "migrant". What does it mean? There are some who are European descended "migrants" as they move from one European country to another. There are some who are descended from "migrants" from Southern nations and are born in the country of adoption. There are some who are political refugees. * Racism is endemic within European nations and must be challenged at international, national and local levels. * It is very important that HIV/AIDS service delivery in terms of education, prevention and care not be imposed upon our communities. Members of our communities should be encouraged to develop their own responses to the dilemmas of HIV/AIDS. * In terms of treatment and care, front line staff such as nurses, doctors, counsellors must be trained in cultural and religious issues of the different communities. * Funding must be made available to upgrade or produce resource materials in community languages rather than have them translated into the language. As much as possible such resource production should be given to the community based organisations themselves to develop and produce. * There must be recognition that "western" terminology around sexuality may not be appropriate within out communities. * Recognition must be given to the fact that many members of our communities feel unable to utilise the "mainstream" services, because of the immigration status, distrust of the medical profession, fear of the police, and so on. Special services must be developed in order to cater for these fears. ***** Heard at the "Naz Conference" in London: Forgotten and remembered! "- When the authorities make their poster prevention campaigns claiming that they are targeted at black communities and ethnic minorities, why do they "forget" to use our languages. As when it comes to testing we are the first to be remembered!" Unpatient activist. Heard at the "Naz Conference" in London: Opposite attracts? "- In Christian culture, according to the Bible - it is allowed to talk about homosexuality, but the practice in forbidden. - In Muslim culture, according to the Koran - the practice of homosexuality is accepted, but it is forbidden to talk about it." Closet queen. The Network of Sex Work Related HIV/AIDS Projects - identity network - groups, projects and individuals involved - World wide network Contact address: Cheryl Overs 4 Place Armand Carrel 95019 Paris FRANCE Tel: + 33 1 42084603 Fax: + 33 1 42061822 Progress made in Amsterdam There were 80 participants in the satellite meeting of the Network held at the Amsterdam conference. The meeting was a great success. Each workshop (by region and then by topic) produced clear recommendations for future action by the Network. Perhaps the most striking feature of the meeting was the consensus which emerged. The work of projects in every region is significantly impeded by various kinds of violations of sex workers rights and by substandard ethical practices. In some places inadequate condom supply and infrastructure continue to frustrate prevention and education efforts. The need was stressed in several groups for client education and for resources, including training and technical support, to be channelled to particular countries as a matter of urgency. Despite considerable effort by the Network co-ordinator in Africa there were no sponsored delegates from Africa. Fortunately Christian Aid have funded a network meeting for African projects to be held as a satellite meeting at the Yaounde AIDS in Africa Conference. The Network has two new activities planned for which funding is being sought. One is a quarterly newsletter and information service on topics around sex work and HIV/AIDS and sexual health. The other is the symposium in Europe with two aims for existing projects to review and consolidate the work being done; and training for people who may be instrumental in developing a response to needs in areas where no projects exist currently. ***** 4 ACTION NOW Stop the exploitation of plwHIV/AIDS and allow drug users to play a role From a speech held at the Amsterdam AIDS Conference on "Roles of People living with HIV". Guest columnist: John Mordaunt, Mainliners/GNPL+, London/UK It is, in my opinion, now widely accepted, though not universally so, that there are many roles for people living with HIV/AIDS, in all aspects of the challenge that the HIV pandemic has faced the entire world with. Personally I have lived with AIDS for the past six years, the primary focus of my present work is involved with HIV drug users/ex user self help groups on both a national and international level. There are roles for plwHIV/AIDS as health educators, both peer educators and as general HIV/AIDS educators, outreach workers, activists, policy makers and advisors and also in the areas of primary prevention, human rights and for the provision of appropriate care for people living and dying with HIV/AIDS. PlwHIV have fought long and hard for recognition and the appropriate use of our special expertise. It has been, and still is, a difficult task to gain true acceptance and recognition as partners from many professionals and governmental institutions, and also by some ASOs and NGOs. In many less developed and cash and resource poor countries, plwHIV/AIDS are sometimes the ONLY effective instigators and providers of information/education/- prevention programmes and more specifically the care/support/empowerment of plwHIV/AIDS. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Community based organisations and self help groups must begin to expect financial support from governments. Within certain ASOs and by certain NGOs and national programmes the use and sometimes exploitation of plwHIV/AIDS as "volunteers" is a well established facet of the response to the HIV pandemic. Although they are concerned about the stress levels experienced by plwHIV/AIDS who are volunteers and actively trying to tackle the miriad of problems that this raises, I believe that these ASOs, particularly in countries where there is a reasonable level of social welfare, are exploiting, misusing, and not adequately supporting, or remunerating plwHIV/AIDS for all, or even any, of the tremendous amount of work, self sacrifice and dedication we show in our commitment to the ASOs in which we are involved. This situation, leads to ridiculous and harmful situations, where in some ASOs you find that the paid staff work fewer hours than the volunteer plwHIV/AIDS. Volunteers of plwHIV/AIDS are an essential component of any integrated response to this pandemic at all levels. But I firmly believe that we continue to undervalue and abuse the good will of volunteers. We are already starting to see in my country that fewer and fewer plwHIV/AIDS are willing to volunteer for ASOs. The question is; if our work and commitment world wide is not sufficently resourced and its true value recognised, where will the next generation of volunteer plwHIV/AIDS come from? I believe that the entire struggle against the HIV pandemic would be severly hindered by a lack of plwHIV/AIDS willing to be voluneers. The second area I would like to address my concerns around are the roles, or rather the lack of roles, allotted to people like myself, meaning ex-, current or maintained drug users living with HIV/AIDS in the fight against the pandemic. In many countries drug users lwHIV/AIDS find it very frustrating and infuriating to be constantly patronised and tokenised, not only by powers that be, but also in many cases by our own peers. It has only been the last few years that the voices and opinions of drug using men and women have been listen to, by policy makers, service providers and even in some cases by self help groups for plwHIV/AIDS. This is due to ADICTOPHOBIA! I know that just as the gay community is not a homogenous group, neither are drug users. And let us not forget that there are many gay drug users and alcoholics. I would therefore like to finish with a number of open questions and a challenge. The first question is; are you trying to make the best use of the skills and talents of drug users lwHIV/AIDS in your ASO? Second question; are you making ANY use of the potential of drug users lwHIV/AIDS? Third question; are you, as a drug user, getting involved or active on any level in the fight against AIDS or in support work? So the challenge, to all people who believe that drug users lwHIV/AIDS have a serious and major role to play in all aspects of the pandemic: We must strive at all times, to include drug users in all areas of HIV/AIDS work, realising that drug users are individuals and as capable as anybody. I can say, if I had not been an activist for the last six years, I do not think I would have been here today! ***** In Burma: 30 SEX WORKERS EXECUTED In Mexico: GAY ACTIVISTS MURDERED A little piece of paper was put into our hands during the Amsterdam AIDS Conference. It read: "Burma -- 30 HIV positive people executed by cyanide injections. All were prostitutes recently deported from Thai brothel." At the same time we kept hearing rumours about several recent murders of gay activists in Mexico. These cases never got the attention they deserved during the Conference. Instead we kept on hearing about the travel restrictions and other backyard problems of the USA. But it is not too late to do something about it. This newsletter cannot confirm the number of executed sex workers in Burma, but there is no doubt that executions have taken place. Concerning the Mexico tragedy, we are sorry to inform you that the murdering has continued even since last summer and that gay people in Mexico are living under a constant horrible pressure. In both cases it seems that the local police, the press and the politicians do not admit the incidences. EuroCASO calls for active solidarity. Please send your protest letters both to Burmesan and Mexican embassies in Europe, or directly to the Governments. ***** ARAS in Romania Things are happening in Romania! We quote from a letter from ARAS: "The Romanian Anti-AIDS Association (ARAS) is the first Romanian private initiative whose ultimate objectives are; to develop and implement well designed public and community specific information and education strategies and activities for the prevention of AIDS, to promote and defend the rights and interests of people living with AIDS and as such act as reference point or mediating advocate in social, ethical and legal matters between individuals and groups and policy makers or providers of public services, to provide support services as well as material and psychological assistance to individuals and communities in response to needs created by the AIDS epidemic. Not so long ago, AIDS was officially considered as "non- existent" in Romania. Still AIDS prevention through public education is not considered a high priority. On-and-off prevention activities developed so far are slow and hesitant. However, specialised sources speak of a visible increase in AIDS cases to be expected in a forseeable future. It is in this preponderent needs ARAS intends to address. Special attention is paid to groups considered to be at particular risk of infection but at the same time action will be taken so as to provide access to information for individuals or groups from all sectors of society. ARAS sees itself as a necessary but complementary institution providing assistance and experience to government efforts. ARAS wishes to set up a model so as to increase authority and public awareness of the problem and give stronger impetus to the development of correct and effective prevention programmes and activities. The members of ARAS are doctors, teachers, legal advisers, social workers, psychologists and many young people. The financial and material resources of the organisation are still scarce. However the country is rich in the fundamental human resources necessary to fight the epidemic." Contact address: ARAS Institutul de Igiena si Sanatate Publica Str.Dr. Leonte 1-3, sector 5 Bucharest ROMANIA Tel: + 40 0 473344 Fax: + 40 0 136660 ***** UK -- Romania projects At the same time we want to report on UK assistance in Romania. The first is a report from "Caught In The Act", London who has had a visiting project in Romania. "Caught In The Act" is an ASO which work on HIV/AIDS education through drama and theatre. During two weeks in June/July they visited Bucharest and Tirgu Mures and had fruitful meetings with both ARAS and SECS (Society for Education in Contraception and Sexual Behaviour) and they held workshops where they shared the working methods they had developed over the past three years in the UK. The visit to Romania was made possible by Charities Aid Foundation, Romanian Angel Appeal and Romanian Relief Fund. There are plans to continue the exchange project. We are also happy to report that the Romanian Angel Appeal in London are committing themselves to continue the financial support of ARAS and other Romanian initiatives in the AIDS field. But they also want to encourage other agencies to support the work of ARAS in this build up phase they are. ***** Greece on the EuroCASO map: ELPIDA of Athens seeks contacts An enthusiastic letter has come from P. Vyras representing ELPIDA, an AIDS Support Group in Athens, Greece. We are happy to welcome Greece to EuroCASO! He has translated a brochure about ELPIDA into English, and he expresses a great interest in networking as such, and wants to get in touch with as many ASOs as possible. He therefore hopes to be able to attend Verona. Here are some facts about ELPIDA: "We are people living with HIV. It has an impact on our lives and we fight against it. Either because it is inside our bodies, or because we have lost our beloved ones to it. Or because it is on our minds and we want to help those who have it. We fight against fear and prejudice. We fight against ignorance and discrimination. In our group there are people from all professions; there are house wifes, doctors, artists, priests and students. Some of us are gay, some are straight. Some are rich and some are poor. We do not make distinctions. All of us are together because in one way or another we have to live with HIV. We offer the following services; support, counselling, information and networking. ELPIDA was fonded in 1989. Since then we have grown into a serious and respected agency. We cooperate with the Ministry of Health, the National AIDS Committee and the Red Cross. ELPIDA is officially represented in the Greek National AIDS Committee." Contact address: P. Vyras ELPIDA P. O. Box 14244 Ambelokipi 115 01 Athens GREECE Tel: + 30 1 8218109 Fax: + 30 1 8217455 ***** Umbrella ASO formed in Czechoslovakia The Association for the Fight Against AIDS and for Sexual Education (ABAS) has been formed in Prague, Czechoslovakia (and do not mix it with ARAS in Romania). It is an umbrella under which five organisations have joined; SAP, Family Planning, Drop-In Foundation, SOHO/Lambda and CICA. ABAS is supported by the Ministry of Health. Contact address: ABAS Ondrej Trojan Prava 17 14700 Prague 4 CZECHOSLOVAKIA Tel/fax: + 42 2 492172 ***** "Life without AIDS" in the Republic of Belarus The Byelorussian Association "Life without AIDS" was registered June 5th 1992. EuroCASO has received an informative letter in which the chair Gennady Khlobystov expresses a wish do communicate with similar organisations in other countries. We quote from the letter: "Our main aim is prevention of the spreading of the HIV infection and AIDS as a global problem of mankind. We intend to solve the following problems: - sanitary and educational activity among people - promotion of healthy way of life - every kind of assistance in order to the strengthening and activization of political, economical, cultural, humanitarian and other contacts with similar organisations in different countries - mental grounding of people to active withstanding AIDS promotion and advertisment of state programmes against AIDS - creation of financial and charity funds to support those infected with HIV - juridical help, charity activities, moral support of infected people, etc." "Life without AIDS" has got an hour on TV at their disposal for World AIDS Day. For this occasion they ask EuroCASO members to send education and promotion material, as soon as possible. They express optimism about their future work in spite of feeling that their society is under the influence of different destructive processes. Assistance from more experienced ASOs will mean a lot to them now. ASOs are asked to contact this new ASO: Gennady Khlobystov Association "Life without AIDS" Logoiski tract 1-107 Minsk 220113 Republic of Belarus Tel: + 7 017 2 622 633 ***** Wellcome Foundation with support programme "Positive action" says Wellcome Foundation. And with these words they demonstrate their commitment to carry out a four point initiative programme; 1) the HIV Community Support Initiative, 2) the Developing Country Initiative, 3) the Children and Young People Initiative and 4) the Workplace Initiative. The company has committed $1 million core money. (The sales of Zidovudine was for $170 millions last year.) The main emphasis will be on the Developing Country Initiative, with particular projects in African countries. The Community Support Initiative aims to encourage dialogue with and support to ASOs, self help groups and other community agencies. Already support has been given to conferences for people with HIV/AIDS and other networks. Address: Welcome Foundation Unicorn House PO Box 129 160 Euston Rd. London NW1 2BP Tel: + 44 81 658 2211 Fax: + 44 81 663 3347 ***** AIDSnews from WHO highly recommended If your ASO is not on the mailing list for Global AIDSnews from WHO/GPA, make sure you get there. Here is a lot of valuable reading! Address: Global AIDSnews GPA/WHO 1211 Geneva 27 SWITZERLAND Tel: + 41 22 791 4770 Fax: + 41 22 791 0107 ***** Clinton takes away entry restrictions The new President in the USA has promised in a speech before the election that he will remove the legislation which does not allow people with HIV/AIDS entry into the US. Congratulations! ***** "WE and YOU" present safe sex leaflet The first time this newsletter introduced "WE and YOU" from Russia, we named them "NOUS et VOUS", which is French for the same. We reported about their establishment in Moscow. This time "WE and YOU" asks us to underline that they are active both in Moscow and in St. Petersburg. They have also sent us a copy of their first safe sex leaflet, and we give you a "taste" of one of the brave illustrations from it. Congratulations from EuroCASO! ***** AIDS Hot Line in Moscow Here is another print from Russia which we have been asked to publish, namely the Hot Line advertisement from Crocus AntiAIDS Plus in Moscow. ***** 5 REQUESTS AND OFFERS REQUESTS Basic needs in Africa The Communities of Women Living with HIV has set up a list of basic needs that women from developing countries have, during the Amsterdam Conference. Women from African countries were asked to express their basic needs. Here are some examples which were common for most of them: money for food; housing; clothes for children and women; medication; wool and other materials; care, clothes and support for orphans and widows, help to set up self help projects, financial assistance...In short, most things many Europeans take for granted. Also women from Caribbean countries expressed the same needs. You may contact the Women's network (see section for networks) for further details, but we suppose the best way to help would be through established ASOs and NGOs already working in developing countries. Slovak AIDS Help seeks support A letter from Bratislava proves that another new ASO has been established this year. Slovak AIDS Help is honestly seeking for funding help. They say: "AIDS prevention represents the first phase of our activities. Our organisation has already gained the favour and confidence of young people with risky behaviour. We intend to prepare attractive and purposeful material to evoke the appropriate respect for the AIDS problem. We shall consider the practicality of measures recommended for the respective groups. The aesthetic and technological attractiveness of our materials represents another significant criterion. We need a sponsor to help us establish a DTP (Desktop Publishing) centre to produce illustrated written materials. The approximate costs of such a centre are 200 000 Kcs (or 10 000 DM/$4000). In return we can offer assistance to foreign ASOs who would like to benefit from the very low printing costs in Slovania, without profits on our part. We also seek a firm abroad to import lubricant and condoms for homosexuals from." For those of you who can inform, or participate, please contact: Miro Vesely Slovenska AIDS pomoc P. O. Box 23 810 00 Bratislava SLOVANIA Exhibition materials to Praha If this newsletter reaches you all in time, please be aware of all those who set up exhibitions during the World AIDS Day. One of those who has asked EuroCASO for assistence, is NADACE in Prague. They ask for posters, leaflets, brochures, videos - anything on HIV/AIDS, and which could fit under the title "Europe against AIDS". They will in return send you a photo of the exhibition afterwards. The address is: Jiri Holub NADACE Spolecne proti AIDS KHS Dittrichova c.17 120 07 Prague CZECHOSLOVAKIA Tel: + 42 2 291651 ext. 284 Fax: + 42 2 292234 OFFERS The Rockefeller Foundation offers help to NGOs in developing countries At least some European countries are still categorised as "developing countries". ASOs from CCEE countries can apply for financial support through the "HIV/AIDS NGO Support Programme" of the Rockefeller Foundation. For further details, contact: HIV/AIDS NGO Support Programme c/o International Family Health 1st Floor, Margareth Pyke Centre 15 Bateman's Buildings, Soho Square London W1V 5TW UK Tel: + 44 71 287 5602 Fax: + 44 71 287 5578 Safe sex posters from Norway The Norwegian Gay Health Board (Helseutvalget for homofile) offers their last produced posters free of charge to other ASOs. It is possible to take out the Norwegian text and replace it with other languages. The posters have been financed by the Norwegian Health Authorities. Please contact: Rolf Thomassen Helseutvalget for homofile Radhusgt. 4 0151 Oslo NORWAY Tel: + 47 2 337015 Fax: + 47 2 336272 Safer gay sex video from The Netherlands Those who want a new approach to their safer sex education for gay men, we recommend the Dutch video film "In the heat of the moment". This film is direct and honest, and therefore clear in its message. But it is also both beautiful and amusing at the same time. They have made a version with English subtitles. It is produced by Stichting Aanvullende Dienstverlening, and can be ordered from: Industrieterrein Verrijn Stuart Verijn Stuartweg 14 1112 AX Diemen THE NETHERLANDS Tel: + 31 20 6909141 Fax: + 31 20 6901893 REQUESTS cont. Condoms to Belfast "We are organising a condom exhibition for World AIDS Day and would be enormously grateful if you would slip a few samples of locally manufactured condoms in an envelope and post them to Belfast. We are particularly interested in creative packaging and promotion so any AIDS specific or targeted marketing materials would be greatly appreciated." Please send it to: AIDS Helpline 24 Mount Charles Belfast BT7 INZ UK Posters to Mexico Conasida in Mexico City are organising a international poster exhibition as part of the World AIDS Day activities, and they ask EuroCASO members to send HIV/AIDS posters to: Juan G. F. dC. Orpzco CONASIDA 35 Col. Copilco Universidad C. P. 04360 Mexico City MEXICO Council of Europe will register discrimination The Swiss Institute of Comparative Law has been engaged by the Council of Europe to report on the incidences of discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS in Europe. The Swiss Institute is therefore interested in ANY report on ANY case from all ASOs and people with HIV/AIDS. They would also like to link up with other agencies who already have made a record of discrimination cases. They are also interested in what measures are taken in Europe to prevent discrimination. It is very important to all of us that they get as much concrete information as possible, so the EuroCASO Secretariat asks ASOs and Networks to contact Lausanne with this information: Alexandra Gerber Swiss Institute of Comparative Law Dorigny 1015 Lausanne SWITZERLAND Tel: + 41 21 692 4311 Fax: + 41 21 692 4343 Lithuanian drug users ask for support and supplies Within the Lithuanian AIDS Center there is a section for rehabilitation of drug users. For the time being three ex-users work here and the Health Ministry of Lithuania gave the group a house. However, they have poor financial support. They literally ask "western" ASOs to send money to their bank account in Sweden: No. 67084127, at Svenska Handelsbanken, S-106 70, Stockholm, Sweden. Please mark the money "Rehabilitation section of Lithuanian AIDS Centre". The group also asks for all available information on safe drug use, safe sex, rehabilitation programmes, methadone etc. They would also appreciate if syringes and condoms were sent to the group. Greetings from the head of the rehabilitation section: Jonas Noreiba Lithuanian AIDS Centre Moletu pl.40 2021 Vilnius LITHUANIA Tel: + 7 0122 350465 Fax: + 7 0122 350225 OFFERS cont. Drug use magazine from Amsterdam Mainline is a Dutch independent foundation which stands close to the culture of drug users. Prevention programmes are based on acceptance of drug use. We have made a magazine carrying the same name as our organisation. It is an adult publication for drug users with objective and practical information. It is more a life style magazine than an AIDS paper, although it contains information on drugs, health, AIDS and many documents on the scene. We have prepared an English- language issue, which we will offer to you on the condition that you pay the postage yourself (an equivalent of 5 Fl.) . You can pay directly to our bank: Postbank 3939013. Our address is: Mainline Postbus 15868 1001 NJ Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS Tel: + 31 20 6822660 Fax: + 31 20 6813003 GOOD BOOKS This newsletter would also like to promote the series of books on "Social aspects of AIDS" which are being published from The Falmer Press. The editor of the books is Peter Aggleton and new titles are constantly offered for sale. One of the forthcoming titles is "Community Based Organisations and AIDS" by Dennis Altman (ICASO). More information from: Falmer Press Rankine Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 0PR UK Tel: + 44 256 840366 Fax: + 44 256 479438 Recreation in Ireland? EuroCASO has received a very generous letter from Brian Webb at the Celtic Lodge in Ballina, Co, Mayo in Ireland: "I am offering prople who have had the misfortune of contracting the HIV virus, their carers or partners a holiday here in the Republic of Ireland. I took over Celtic Lodge about two years ago, it is now renovated completely and I had planned to re- open as an after care Hostel for ten convalecent persons. But due to financial constraints the Health Board is now not in the position to send me any patients. So, now I have ten empty beds going to waste." Webb offers people a break in a quiet place, a holiday away from the hassle of their hometown. Many people of HIV/AIDS and ASO workers should consider this offer...Celtic Lodge is situated near the village of Knockanillaun about five miles west of Ballina. Transport is no problem as a regular bus and train service run to all parts of Ireland. The accomodation consists of six bedrooms. The fully inclusive charge is $10 per person per day. Self catering. "Although I can provide meals on request if required, no restrictions and definitely no hidden extras", Webb writes. Why don't you take your whole office to Ireland? For more information: Brian Webb Celtic Lodge Rathball, Knockanillaun Ballina, Co. Mayo REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Tel: + 353 96 70889 TWINNING Purely Positive Southampton seeks contact with Scandinavian group Purely Positive Southampton is - - a self help group for people with HIV/AIDS since 1990. They meet once a week and are open to all people with HIV/AIDS. Apart from providing support and exchange of information, they also focus on different therapies, both orthodox and holistic. Ultimately they hope to set up a drop in centre. They also wish to play an active role in the European network of self help groups. They look for - - a mixed group like their own but strictly for people with HIV. They would like to exchange ideas and experiences, and would like to make exchange visits. They feel it would be desirable to link to a group in Scandinavia. Pluss of Norway wants to twin Pluss -- - is a self help organisation for all identities in Norway, with a drop in centre in the capital, Oslo. Pluss has developed its services and actions through the last four years, and is more than a support group as Pluss also is active in influencing AIDS policy issues. Pluss wants - - to twin with another rather big and well established self help group in Europe in order to compare and exchange experiences and skills. Local Pluss groups from smaller cities in Norway would be interested to twin with similar smaller groups in other countries. Please contact: Jarl Wage Pluss Postboks 6879 St. Olavs pl. 0130 Oslo NORWAY Tel: + 47 2 114900 Fax: + 47 2 360269 As to twinning projects, the Development and Liaison Officer of EuroCASO offers his assistance. We want to draw your attention to twinning requests also in EuroCASO Newsletter 2/92. ***** 6 REPORTS WHO/GMC with new structures: Will NGOs/ASOs be included at last? From the eight meeting of the WHO/Global Programme on AIDS Management Committee (GMC) 10-12 June, at least two issues deserve particular attention seen with the eyes of ASOs. New structures were recommended both regarding global and country levels. As to the global level, the GMC wants to establish an AIDS Coordination Forum to "function as an inclusive consultative mechanism for developing countries, the United Nations system, other intergovernmental organisations, bilateral donors and NGOs working on AIDS. "The new structure is meant to improve the communication and coordination between the agencies in the field. UNDP is invited to chair the Fourm for the first two years period and a secretariat will be established within the WHO system. The intention is that NGOs will be invited to participate in this process and also around the staffing of the secretariat. Also at the country level coordination NGOs are recommended to be invited as active partners together with the UN agencies, bilateral bodies and international financial institutions. The interesting result was that NGOs were moved from being consultative partners to active partners. Further detailes about both these new inventions (or are they new?) will be proposed at the next GMC meeting 23-25 November. It is clear that the voice of NGOs increasingly shall be heard within the GMC. Whether this in turn represents more practical influence on decision making by NGOs within the WHO system - and ultimately more commitment and direct funding to CBASOs from WHO and others in the future, is still a question which we will have to await the answer to. ***** Not only hospices in Poland By Jerzy Krzyszpien, Lambda/Krakow The HIV/AIDS scene in Poland is at present dominated by drug users. The activity of the ASO Monar is well known in society for organising hospices for people with HIV/AIDS. However, the publicity surrounding those admirable and much needed efforts somehow makes the impression that the only place for pwHIV/AIDS is at a hospice, preferably in the forest...PwHIV who live at home do not receive that much attention. The idea of support groups for them has been generally ignored. In an effort to remedy this situation, the HIV/AIDS Team of the lesbian and gay assiciation of Lambda groups organised the first meeting of persons interested in support groups in Warsaw in February. Since the needs and expectations of the particular groups of effected people vary, perhaps the group should retain its mainly gay character. This group meets once a week and can be reached through this address: Grupa Wsparcia Plus c/o Lambda- Warszawa Uniwersytet Warszawski ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 24 00-927 Warszawa POLAND Tel: + 48 2 628 0336 The Team of Lambda groups is also active in safer sex education for gay men. Besides printing a safer sex leaflet and publishing short messages through the Polish gay press, the Team conducts safer sex workshops, both in Warsaw and Krakow. The Team wishes to express its gratitude to other ASOs, especially to Stichting Aanvullende Dienstverlening in Amsterdam, the Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe in Berlin and the Associazone Solidarite AIDS in Milano for their valuable assistance in the form of educational videos and printed materials. ***** Report from Berlin conference on AIDS, drug use and mass migration The European Centre has issued a comprehensive report (75 pages) from an international expert meeting on "Voluntary organisations in crisis management: AIDS drug abuse and mass migration" held in Berlin in November 1990. This is available from: European Centre Bergasse 17 1090 Vienna AUSTRIA Tel: + 43 1 3145050 Fax: + 43 1 31450519 UK NGO Consortium report on "What is the challenge" Before World AIDS Day last year the UK NGO Consortium in London decided to take the challenge literally by inviting to a seminar under the title "What is the challenge". Now the report from this seminar is available, and is recommended as valuable reading for anyone wanting to discuss visions and ideals about the challenges emerging from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is obtainable from: UK NGO Consortium Fenner Brockway House 37/39 Great Guildford Street London SE1 OES UK Tel: + 44 71 401 8231 Fax: + 44 71 401 2124 The Flemish situation unsolved: New resolution in Amsterdam The EuroCASO satellite meeting in Amsterdam was able to pass a support resolution for Het AIDS Team of Antwerpen concerning their ongoing struggle for a respectable AIDS policy in Flanders. EuroCASO passed a support resolution at the Annual Meeting in Prague last year. The resolution in Amsterdam must be seen as a follow-up. This newsletter has described the Flemish situation in earlier issues. The new resolution encourages the Flemish Government to approve the proposals that finally have been brought to the table. We hope this last resoluti [text lost] ***** 7 EVENTS EuroCASO Annual Conference in Verona 10-13 December ILGA Conference in Brussels at New Year 14th European ILGA Conference will be held in Brussels 27-31 December. Obviously, one of the major items on the agenda will be to discuss further strategies to ensure protection of human rights for gays and lesbians. HIV/AIDS will naturally be another important topic. They report that the conference site will be comfortable for all participants, including wheel chair accessibility, there will be resting spaces, nurse services, vegetarian meals and simultaneous translation into different languages. A limited number of scholarships for participants from countries of central and eastern Europe will be available. New Years Eve will be celebrated as only gays and lesbians can! Early registration is set at 7700 Belgian Francs, all included in youth hostel. More for hotel, less without accommodation. For additional information and registration: ILGA Euro 92 c/o Tels Quels 81 rue du Marche-au-Charbon 1000 Brussels BELGIUM Tel/fax: + 32 2 502 2471 First Turkiue AIDS Congress in Istanbul 12-15 January The first Turkish International AIDS Congress will happen early next year in Istanbul. Abstract deadline is 16 November, registration can take place until the day before the Congress opens. Fees are US$ 50 (US$ 25 for students). There will be translation into English (and Turkish). The agenda is wide and complete as it suits a first national AIDS Congress. Full information from: AIDS Savasim Dernegi Istanbul Tip Fakultesi, Temel Bilimer Binasi Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dali 34390 Capa, Istanbul TURKEY Tel: + 90 1 540 0000 Fax: + 90 1 532 0657 AIDS and Reproduction in Nice 6-8 May 1993 The 2nd International Symposium on AIDS and Reproduction is planned for May next year in Nice/France. This happens three years after the First Symposium which was held in Genoa/Italy. The following topics will be highlighted: HIV and reproduction, transmission from mother to child, influence of pregnancy on HIV disease, influence of HIV on pregnancy, retrovical treatment during pregnancy, contraception, cervical pathology, ethical and legal aspects. The conference is a French/Spanish coproject, with guest speakers from all over the world. Translations into English, French, Spanish and Italian. Registration deadline is 31 January. There is no information about scholarships in the first announcements. More information from: NICE ACROPOLIS Direction du Developpment Service Gestion des Congres 1 Esplanade Kennedy-BP 83-06302 Nice FRANCE Tel: + 33 92003290 Fax: + 33 93928338 IX International AIDS Conference in Berlin 7-11 June 1993 Time is very short between the 8th (in Amsterdam) and the 9th International Conference on AIDS, which next year will be in Berlin 7-11 June, particularly if you intend to contribute to the sessions. The organisers call for abstracts for oral presentations, workshops and posters within 15 January. Registration deadline is January 31. Deadline for non-profit exhibition is 15 February. Ask for first announcement papers from: DER-Congress Congress Organisation Bundesalle 56 1000 Berlin GERMANY Tel: + 49 30 8579030 Fax: + 49 30 85790327 Culture festival for affected communities in Berlin Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe works hard to realize the idea of arranging a culture festival in conjunction with the Berlin AIDS Conference next year. The plan is to have multiple cultural events going on in Berlin at least for a month around the Conference itself. Details have not yet been published, but there is an emphasis on participation and contributions from developing countries. The working title for the festival is "AIDS Culture -- Cultural AIDS" and the motto is "Isolation or Integration". ***** The EuroCASO Working Committee (WC): Davide Austin, LILA, Vicenza/Italy, Tel: + 39 444 544352 Michael Haussermann, AIDS-Hilfe Schweiz, Zurich/Switzerland, Tel: + 41 1 4623077 Kurt Krickler, OAIDZ, Vienna/Austria, Tel: + 43 1 5451310 Petra Narimani Zsuzsa Szabo, PLUSS, Budapest/hungary, Tel: + 36 1 113019 Igor Yevsyukov, Crocus AntiAIDS Plus, Moscow/Russia Tel: + 7 095 4179695 Ruth Morgan Thomas, Scot-PEP, Edinbourg/UK, Tel: + 44 31 2298269 John McKeever: AIDS Helpline, Belfast/UK Tel + 44 232 249268 Arne N. Husdal, Pluss, Oslo/Norway, Tel: + 47 2 114900 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& End of display