Movement for HIV Prevention - 50 by 15 Campaign

At the core of the Movement initiative lies a unique partnership between the elected representatives of the people and the community agencies that advocate for and provide services to the people. By joining forces they will work to make contributions to bring about change locally, nationally, and regionally. The organisers say that since many states in the region are finalising their HIV prevention plans, this initiative is intended as a tool to generate constructive criticism, promote debate, and stimulate community mobilisation.

Members of the Movement met at a workshop in 2009 and agreed on ten key points of action:

• supporting the 50 by 15 campaign - reducing new infections by 50% by 2010;
• committing to mobilising leaders and communities;
• speaking the truth to leadership, breaking silences and taboos, and leading meaningful discussions on difficult issues;
• believing that prevention cannot ignore the need to treat those in need of treatment;
• committing to building capacity and systems in communities;
• participating in and contributing to country reviews on National Strategic Plans and the development of prevention plans;
• recognising the need for common and complementary messaging and approaches;
• working with parliamentary leaders in forwarding prevention; and
• engaging with development partners to discuss issues of prevention resourcing, long-term indicators for programming and community-derived and driven programming.

The workshop was designed to focus on developing practical strategies for ensuring that the Movement is on track to meet the agreed targets, as well as merge with other ongoing collaborative efforts by the SADC PF and other parliamentary-centric organisations, including community service organisations and international NGOs.

So far, the Movement has outlined plans for the next stages of the initiative, and produced a brief for the production of materials and information packs relevant to the Movement. The 50 by 15 branding was used by some participating agencies on World AIDS Day 2009, and short-term staffing has been funded to develop the architecture of the initiative.

The Movement has also carried out an audit of the HIV prevention situation in each of the 17 participating countries, with particular challenges and successes. A lead civil society organisation was identified in each country and that organisation's role defined. Specific country-level action to formalise relationships between parliamentary structures and civil society was also identified, and the concept of a regional campaign developed. In addition, a monitoring and evaluation framework was developed; and follow-ups were done with important sectors, such as business, faith, labour, traditional leaders and local government. Organisers plan to have a review meeting with parliamentarians and civil society to focus on in-country architecture and long-term plans.

According to the organisers, the impact of the Movement will be on leadership at each level and in a range of sectors, with political leadership being of crucial importance. To achieve this, the Movement will focus significantly on political and other leadership gatherings, and the processes around those gatherings. Between those events there will be programmes of continued engagement with leaders.

HIV/AIDS, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission