Global Committees that CVC represent

Over the course of 2008, CVC was invited or appointed to sit on five international committees and to partner with an international support strategy for civil society recipients of global fund grants. At CVC we believe this is a very important step as for too many years, Caribbean civil society has been invisible at the global level. We also believe that it is important for us to facilitate open dialogue on the issues addressed in those fora, and welcome input so our representation can be better informed. It is also important for civil society to be aware of these issues so that when CVC rotates out of these fora there is an informed group of civil society actors who can take the reins.

The Non-Governmental Organisation Delegation of the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS PCB)

In December 2008, the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition was elected to the UNAIDS PCB. The role of the NGO Delegation is to bring the issues and perspectives of civil society from around the world to the governing board discussions of UNAIDS. CVC will be starting an open listserve for discussion among Caribbean civil society of issues related to the PCB. We will also be circulating reports and surveys to ensure Caribbean voices are heard on issues on the agenda of the PCB or that need to be raised. If you are interested in participating in this listserve, please send an email to that effect to Brian-Paul Welsh, at bwelsh@cvccoalition.org. The NGO delegation has a website at:

The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS (GCWA)

The Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition has been invited to sit on the Steering Committee of the GCWA. The GSWA is comprised of representatives of UN Agencies and Civil Society. Members are nominated by name and where relevant by organization based on his/her skill set or expertise. Nominations to the Steering Committee reflect the membership of the GCWA and therefore should be balanced between UN and civil society members, include representation from organizations across the different regions, and embrace representatives from HIV positive networks as well as leading experts on women and AIDS. The Secretariat for the Coalition is housed in UNAIDS, Geneva. The Coalition has a webpage on the UNAIDS website at: http://womenandaids.unaids.org

Community Coordinating Committee, International AIDS Society

HIV and Human Rights Reference Group

The HIV and Human Rights Reference Group is an advisory body on human rights to the Executive Director of UNAIDS. It is by invitation only, but seeks broad representation of regions and population expertise. he UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights is an independent, advisory body, established in 2002 to advise the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on all matters relating to HIV and human rights. The views of the Reference Group, including those expressed in their issue papers and statements, do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the UNAIDS Secretariat or the Co-sponsors of UNAIDS. The Reference Group advises UNAIDS on how it can strengthen the capacity of governments, civil society and the private sector to protect and promote human rights in relation to HIV, and how to operationalize human rights, gender and the principles of GIPA (Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV) in UNAIDS policies and technical support.

The Reference Group is made up of people from many different perspectives with a common commitment to, and expertise in, the area of HIV and human rights. The group includes advocates, HIV programmers, lawyers, a High Court judge, people living with HIV, people working with sex workers and drug users, an ethicist, academics and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. Its members act in their individual capacity. It is currently chaired by Mark Heywood of the Treatment Advocacy Campaign in South. The reference group has a page on the UNAIDS. Click Here To See

Global Forum on MSM and HIV (MSMGF)

The Global Forum is a broad-based forum for advocacy, networking, and information sharing on rights-based HIV programming for MSM. The Forum issues regular e-blasts on issues related to its core concern from around the world. It also hosts a website that is a growing repository of information about MSM globally. The Steering Committee of the Global Forum consists of a maximum of 20 members from around the world. To access their resources or to sign up for e-blasts, visit the Forum’s website is at www.msmandhiv.org

Civil Society Action Team (CSAT)

CSAT is a global initiative, housed at the International Council of AIDS Service Organisations (ICASO) that has been in development since 2006, as a response to the difficulties faced by civil society in making a full contribution to responses to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. The overall goal of CSAT is to improve the performance of Global Fund grants through strengthening civil society role in program implementation and in governance. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Aid For AIDS is the host, and has partnered with CVC as its Caribbean partner. CSAT LAC has a website under development at: www.csat-lac.org

Caribbean Treatment Action Group (CTAG)

CTAG, the Caribbean arm of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) is a coalition of person living with HIV and their advocates. Their main aim is to advocate for universal access to care, treatment and support for person living with HIV in the region, including prevention programmes. Through a small grants programme, CTAG works through already existing grass roots organisations to achieve this goal and through them participates in a wider regional advocacy campaign. CTAG contributes to the global advocacy strategy through Missing the Target Report.

Most recently Jamaica and the Dominica Republic were featured in two separate chapters in a global report on the participation of civil society organisations in the Global Fund. The next such report is on prevention of mother to child transmission. ITPC’s website is at: www.itpcglobal.org