Invitation: National alliance building for HIV response in India

[Guest guest]

Invitation:

Meeting on National alliance building for multicultural response to HIV in

India: Challenges and opportunities.

MUMBAI 12th and 13th February 2009.

Dear Friends

Recognizing the problem of HIV/AIDS facing the country today and

given the fact that several actors are engaged in addressing the

problem locally, regionally, nationally and internationally; a need

was felt to build a national alliance of various groups and movements

to consolidate and synthesize the efforts and energies of agencies to

create a significant, discernible and tangible impact at the national

level.

With this reason Asian People's Alliance to combat HIV/AIDS

(APACHA) a broad Asian regional alliance that brings together

people from various walks of life was formally launched.

This movement acknowledges the facts that HIV & AIDS poses political,

economic, human rights and governance challenge in the region. Thus,

until every facet of society is mobilized, the battle is not

possible.

APACHA attempts to bring likeminded agencies such as trade

unions, student unions, human rights networks, women's rights

networks, lawyers, sex workers networks, MSM networks, media,

academia, Dalits rights networks, land rights movements, indigenous

groups, people living with HIV & AIDS to work together.

The main aim of this alliance is to facilitate and support –

democratic-social and political mobilizations locally, nationally and

internationally and build alliances to effectively address issues

related to the causes and consequences of HIV & AIDS.

A national meeting is called by like minded organizations from

various walks of life to discuss the issues related to NACP III and

role of civil society in the planning of NACP IV, Civil society

engagements and representation in Global Fund decision making

processes, need to expand priorities in critical issues such as fund

utilization for most vulnerable sections in society and staff

retrenchment of most needy during this global financial crisis.

We are proposing a meeting in MUMBAI on 12th and 13th February2009,

Sarvodaya, St. Pius Campus, Goregaon, Mumbai.

More details about the venue and schedule will be informed as soon as you

confirm the participation.

If difficult to join kindly depute a person from your organization.

The organizers will take care of the boarding and lodging while the participants

will have to bear the cost of travel.

The meeting also will end up with formal National alliance formation

including multi sector participation of all those people who are

involved such as women's groups, youth groups, health workers, CBOs

of IDUs, CBOs of MSM groups and people living with HIV/AIDS.

We seek your participation to make the meeting. We hope to begin the

meeting by 10.30 am on 12th and will conclude after lunch on 13th

February. Kindly confirm your participation.

Please send Response to <apachaindia@...>.

Sincerely,

For APACHA India Organizing Committee

CYDA- Pune for APACHA India

If more information required please contact Mathew @ 9373308126