Fast-track the end of AI​​​DS in the EU - practical evidence-based interventions. Presentation by: Sini Pasanen, Civil Society Forum/AIDS Action Europe In a two-day meeting under the auspices of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (30-31 January 2017), HIV experts from across the European Union discussed how to reverse this trend and how to prepare Europe to achieve the set target of ending AIDS by 2030.

1. Priorities for fast-tracking
the end of AIDS in Europe –
Community perspective
Sini Pasanen, co-chair CSF on HIV/AIDS

2. Are we really committed
to ending AIDS?
2

3. Health – A fundamental right
and universal access?
• Universal health coverage is an objective of
the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
– A high level of human health protection
shall be ensured in the definition and
implementation of all the Union's policies
and activities.
3

4. - Prevention of HIV in key populations
- Scaling up testing and linkage to care
- Scaling up HIV treatment
Priorities for fast tracking

5. Accessible & Acceptable
• Prevention
• Testing
• Treatment
– Condoms and lubricants in gay bars?
Needles and syringes in prisons? Services
for migrants without status? Rights based
sexual education? Is treatment available for
everyone without interruptions?
5

6. “I am a photographer artist from Finland.
I got sick with AIDS in 2012 in Berlin and was
hospitalized for three months.
I have been taking pictures of plastic theme for
years before that incident and some self-portraits
too. Getting sick and diagnosed gave my art a
new direction, AIDS and HIV are visible in the
newest pictures because of the kaposi’s sarcoma
scars that are still visible in my body.
Plastic is forever but I am not.
As long as I live I will keep on fighting.
Fighting stigma starts with your own
attitude.“
Tonikitti.com
Societal pressure
6

7. Community
• How will there be access to communities
where behavior is criminalised?
• Communities are needed to reach every step
of 90-90-90 and to end AIDS.
• Community-led interventions and advocacy
are effective. Community based services reach
people.
• The biggest threat to community-led work and
advocacy is the political environment and
repressive legal systems.
7

8. Where we need to work hardest
• Fighting stigma
• Defending human rights
– Sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Ending criminalisation of key populations and
people living with HIV.
• Removing legal and regulatory barriers to
universal access.
• We need an integrated approach to HIV, TB, viral
hepatitis and STIs
8

9. Well-resourced community response
2.2. There is a need for sustained investment,
more innovative and bold comprehensive
approaches to turn the tide on the epidemics of
HIV, associated infections and other sexually
transmitted infections, especially among key
populations such as men who have sex with
men, transgender persons, sex workers, people
who inject drugs, people in detention, prisoners
and migrants; and to include and resource civil
society close to affected communities.
The Malta declaration on HIV/AIDS
9

10. To end AIDS
We need innovative and bold, comprehensive
approaches done in partnership with well-
resourced communities and civil society.
To end AIDS we need to see that happening in
action, not only words in statements and political
declarations.
10

11. Thank you!

12. Fast-track the end of AIDS in the EU
practical evidence-based interventions