To discriminate. against people. on the basis of. their HIV status. is an affront to. human rights and. compromises our. efforts to halt the

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1 DUBLIN ALLIANCE 25 Years addressing HIV/

2 Introduction As Dublin Alliance marks its 25th birthday much of the news in relation to HIV and is positive. Across the world new HIV infections continue to fall, with a 21% reduction between 1997 and 2010, and more people than ever are starting treatment. Research is giving us solid evidence that antiretroviral therapy can prevent new HIV infections and the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended licensing the drug Truvada as a means of HIV prevention amongst high-risk groups. However there were still 2.7 million new infections worldwide in 2010, including an estimated 390,000 children. While the availability of antiretroviral drugs has been scaled up in low and middle income countries, where 6.6 million people are now receiving treatment, this still only represents about half of those who need it. At the same time as new and more effective drugs become available in the developed world, ensuring equitable access to treatment across the developing world remains a continuing and ongoing challenge. Here in Ireland the rate of new infections has been falling since 2008, with 320 people newly diagnosed with HIV in 2011, a 3% decrease on The decreasing rate is welcome news, but any new cases of such a preventable illness are unnecessary and we must continue our efforts to reach a position of zero new infections. A major concern is that 2011 data show a significant level of late diagnosis amongst the new HIV infections. Late HIV diagnosis, where a person is unaware of their HIV status for many years, carries an increased risk of illness and death and also poses greater risks of transmission to others. There is an urgent need to promote and make accessible HIV and STI testing services to reduce levels of late diagnosis and also to reach the estimated 30% of HIV positive people in Ireland who are currently unaware of their status. Lack of sexual health awareness and the stigma that attaches to HIV remain as major barriers to successfully To discriminate against people on the basis of their HIV status is an affront to human rights and compromises our efforts to halt the spread of HIV. Irish Government 2008 increasing the uptake of testing. HIV related Stigma continues to present a serious and persistent challenge. The 2008 Stamp Out Stigma Report found that people living with HIV in Ireland experienced significant levels of stigma and discrimination across a wide range of areas: in families, among friends, in the workplace and in accessing health and social care services. Leadership at political level is essential in combating the stigma and discrimination that still attaches to HIV and and it is also essential that we support people living with HIV to become leaders and have their own voice. The emergence of the organisation Positive Now is an important step in this direction. The commitment by government to put in place a National Sexual Health Strategy in 2012 is a very positive development and it will provide us with the framework to increase our efforts to tackle HIV in the coming years. This involves strengthening the partnership between statutory services, NGOs and PLWHIV to increase awareness of sexual health and HIV, to promote testing as part of our primary health care services and to challenge and combat HIV-related stigma that should have no place in the Ireland of today. Ireland is a signatory to the 2011 UN Political Declaration on HIV/; Intensifying Our Efforts to Eliminate HIV/ and it is essential that, despite the current economic difficulties, we continue to meet our commitments under that agreement and to work towards reaching the UN goals of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero HIV related deaths. DAA will continue to work together with our statutory, voluntary and civil society partners to contribute towards meeting these goals in the coming years.

3 DUBLIN ALLIANCE Our Mission q To improve conditions for people living with HIV and, their families and their caregivers, while actively promoting HIV and sexual health awareness in the general population. Our Vision q To contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of HIV in Ireland and to the eradication of HIV-related stigma. Our Objectives q To support those living with and affected by HIV and q To confront the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and q To increase public awareness through the promotion of HIV and sexual health education q To influence policy through partnership and active campaigning

4 1980s International 1981 First cases of detected in California and New York 1982 reported in several European countries Name is created Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome () ,000 cases reported in U.S. with 1,000 deaths 1984 Scientists identify HIV as cause of 1984 World s first needle exchange programme is set up in Amsterdam 1985 is reported in China and has now been seen in every region of the world 1985 First International Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia 1986 More than 38,000 cases reported from 85 countries 1987 AZT is first drug approved for treating 1987 Inaugural Display of the Names Project Memorial Quilt in Washington 1988 Health Ministers meet and establish World Day (Dec 1st) 1980s National Late 1982 First two cases of diagnosed in Ireland cases of reported 1985 First case of HIV diagnosed 1984/85 HIV/ is an issue in the media and public awareness is raised 1985 Gay Health Action(GHA) founded in January first NGO to campaign specifically on in Ireland 1985 GHA produce first leaflet on with support from Dept. of Health 1986 Dept. of Health produce information leaflet the Facts 1987 Mass media campaign launched by Dept. of Health 1987 National Task Force on set up by Catholic Social Services Conference with representation from community groups, clinicians and Dept. of Health cases reported 1989 EHB Resource Centre set up in Baggot St. Report on sample of 398 drug users in Jervis Street shows 27% are HIV positive 1980s Dublin Alliance 1985 Action Alliance comes together 1987 Dublin Alliance is established, with constituent groups: Helpline Body Positive Cairde Irish Frontliners Women and Groups gather and disseminate information on HIV/ amongst the gay community and drug users 1988 Federation of organisations comes together as Liaison Forum(ALF) 1989 Small amounts of money accessed through National Lottery

5 1990s International 1990 Around 8 million people living with HIV worldwide 1991 Thailand launches Asia s most extensive HIV prevention programme 1991 Red Ribbon is promoted by Visual Artist Caucus in New York as a symbol of solidarity with people living with HIV 1994 Infant HIV infections begin to fall in developing countries due to AZT 1995 Joint UN Programme on (UN) is established 1996 Combined Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART)shown to be highly effective in treating HIV/ 1997 deaths begin to decline in developed countries In developing countries, only small minority can access treatment 1998 Around 22 million people living with HIV worldwide 1990s National 1991 Irish Quilt Tour: an Memorial opens in the Mansion House in Dublin 1991 National Strategy Committee (NASC) set up by Minister Mary O Rourke 1992 NASC Report and Recommendations adopted as policy by Government 1991 Government Strategy to Prevent Drug Misuse recognises the importance of a harm reduction approach for HIV prevention 1992 Almost 60% of HIV positive tests and 40% of cases drug-related 1992 Gay Men s Health Service is established by the Health Board 1993 Homosexuality is decriminalised 1993 The Dept. of Health and Dept. of Education produce the Education and Resource Materials Manual for secondary schools 1994 Gay Health Network is established on an All-Ireland basis 1995 Segregation of prisoners with HIV ceases 1996 HIV Services Network (HSN) is established to bring together groups providing HIV related services 1996 First Report of Ministerial Task Force to reduce Demand for Drugs recognises the link between the heroin crisis and social and economic disadvantage 1998 Ireland is part of the European Project on and Mobility which aims to coordinate efforts in the EU to work with mobile populations 1990s Dublin Alliance 1990 DAA sets up Holistic Health Project and Outreach programme 1993 DAA becomes independent of constituent groups 1993 DAA moves to current premises in Parnell Square 1994 Women and HIV Project is set up as a support and education group for HIV positive women 1994 DAA begins its Street Outreach Programme for drug users 1995 Report on DAA Prevention and Education Service shows over 2,800 training sessions on HIV have been run by the Service ,000 Love Careful condom packs produced and distributed on Valentine s Day 1998 DAA is a member of the Irish and Mobility Network 1998 DAA and Red Ribbon project set up ECOSEP as a training programme for women from marginalised communities 1999 FASNET programme set up in DAA as a training and work experience scheme for clients from marginalised backgrounds

6 2000s 2000s International 2001 Generic Anti Retroviral drugs are produced in India, beginning the process of bringing down prices and increasing availability in developing countries 2001 UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/ : Global Crisis Global Action aims to provide international leadership and promote co-operation in tackling the epidemic 2002 Global Fund is set up 2003 Campaigning to make ARVs more accessible in developing countries 2004 EU produces Dublin Declaration on Partnership to fight HIV/ in Europe and Central Asia 2006 UNGASS Political Declaration on HIV/ aims to scale up commitments in 2001 Declaration EU framework Combatting HIV/ within the EU and neighbouring countries Around 33 million people living with HIV/ around the world 2009 EU framework A strategy for Combatting HIV/ in the EU and Neighbouring Countries 2010 Positive results from PrEP trials increasing hopes for treatment as prevention 2011 UNGASS Political Declaration on HIV/: Intensifying our Efforts to eliminate HIV/ reinforces the need to meet targets set National 2000 National Strategy is produced recommending broader links to sexual health 2003 Over 30% increase in recorded figures for new HIV infections in Ireland with a total of 399 new cases 2004 Irish government part of EU Dublin Declaration on Partnership to fight HIV/ in Europe 2005 Number of new HIV infections is decreasing by 10%, beginning a steady decrease in new cases amongst IDUs 2007 Number of new HIV infections moving upwards again, with increases amongst MSM and people from countries of high prevalance 2007 National Stamp out Stigma campaign launched by government to tackle prejudice and discrimination re HIV 2008 NASC HIV Education and Prevention Plan is produced 2009 Review carried out of National Strategy Committee(NASC) recommends the development of a National Sexual Health Strategy 2010 Positive Now is set up as a working group of people living with HIV to give positive people a voice within existing government and NGO agencies

7 2000s Dublin Aids Alliance 2001 DAA reports increase in numbers of foreign nationals using the services 2003 DAA involved with IFPA and Durex in running first ever Sexual Health Awareness Week 2004 DAA participates as the Irish civil society representative at the EU Ministerial Conference leading to the Dublin Declaration 2004 DAA training programmes in HIV and Hepatitis are developed 2004 Positive Youth Video launched on World Day in partnership with Concern aimed at increasing HIV awareness amongst young people 2005 DAA develops its first outreach programme for migrant communities 2005 DAA launches Do You Choose It, a sexual health awareness campaign with posters, flyers and beer mats, in partnership with the Red Ribbon Project, Limerick 2005 DAA produces the User Friendly Passport Booklet for drug users 2006 Love your Liver information pack on Hep C developed in partnership with UISCE and the Chrysalis Drug Project 2006 DAA involved with IFPA, CPA and USI in running first ever Durex National Condom Week 2007 DAA participates in the National Stamp Out Stigma Campaign 2007 Don t Panic Guide to Sexual Health is produced in 6 languages through Ethnic Minorities Outreach Programme 2009 DAA calls on the Government to develop a National Sexual Health Strategy 2009 DAA produces the Gettin it On Guide to using condoms 2010 Pilot HIV testing service is run in DAA on Irish Day 2011 DAA launches Living with HIV: a Self-Help Guide for people living with HIV on Irish Day 2011 DAA involved in the development of the joint GHN/HSE National HIV Prevention Programme for MSM and in its launch on World Day DUBLIN ALLIANCE

8 THE UNITED NATIONS(UN) GOALS l l l DUBLIN ALLIANCE ZERO new HIV infections ZERO discrimination ZERO -related deaths Dublin Alliance, 53 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 t: f: e: info@dublinaidsalliance.ie w: