Accelerating Access To HIV Treatment 17 June 2014 In 2012, 347 000 people in the Region wereliving with HIV, a 127% increase over thenumber living with HIV in 2001. Even as newinfections continue to decline worldwide,there are disturbing signs that the Region’sepidemic is worsening. Among the world’sregions, HIV incidence is increasing fastest inthe Region, with the annual number of newinfections rising by more than 124% from2001 to 2012 (7).Although, the percentage of the generaladult population living with HIV in theRegion is among the lowest globally, certainpopulations have been disproportionatelyaffected. These populations include menwho have sex with men, people who injectdrugs, prisoners, and sex workers andtheir clients. Epidemiological studies havedocumented elevated HIV prevalence amongkey populations in many settings – withrecent surveys reporting levels reaching upto 87% among people who inject drugs and18% among prisoners in Libya (8), 15.4%among female sex workers in Djibouti, and13% among men who have sex with men inTunisia.Adult HIV prevalence exceeds 1% in Djiboutiand parts of Somalia, qualifying them as“generalized” epidemics, although keypopulations at higher risk of HIV exposure account for the large proportion of newinfections in these countries as well (9).Considerable geographical variation inHIV burden is reported within individualcountries.

Arab Strategic Framework for the Response to HIV and AIDS (2014-2020) 17 June 2014 The draft framework of the Arab AIDS strategy (2014–2020) was developed through a consultative process with Member States of the League of Arab States, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) cosponsors and Secretariat, and civil society organizations, based on:the decision of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Health (no. 2) issued in October 2011 in Cairo, Egypt regarding the international and regional developments on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which endorsed the initiative of Saudi Arabia and adopted the Riyadh Charter on combating HIV in the Gulf Cooperation Council issued in April 2011 as a pan-Arab document;the decision of the Council of Arab Ministers of Health (no. 2) issued during its 37th ordinary session in Amman, Jordan in March 2012 on uniting Arab countries against AIDS, which adopted the recommendations of the Saudi Forum that took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November 2011 and agreed to constitute a technical committee under the leadership of Saudi Arabia that would follow up on the recommendations of the Saudi Forum and develop an Arab AIDS strategy in coordination with the Technical Secretariat and UNAIDS;

Arab Convention on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the protection of Rights of People living with HIV with HIV/AIDS (In its final form) 17 June 2014 The Arab State Parties to this Convention,1. Out of the Arab nation’s belief in human dignity and in the right to a dignified life based on freedom, justice, equality and equal opportunities, and in accordance with the provisions of Islamic Shari’a and international conventions and principles of the United Nations’ Charter against all forms discrimination based on religion, race or color,2. Recognizing the importance of the guidelines on policies and measures contained in the Declaration of Political Commitment on HIV, and the resolution of the Human Rights Council on the protection of human rights in the context of HIV in the promotion, formulation and evaluation of policies, plans, programs and actions at the national, regional and international levels to increase equal opportunities for people living with HIV, and to ensure that laws, policies and practices on HIV are sensitive to human rights,

Doha Call to Action 17 June 2014 We, the representatives of civil society, academia, policy makers and individuals participating in the International Conference organized in Doha, Qatar on the 16-17 of April, 2014 by the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family;Having considered the conference theme “Empowering Families: A Pathway to Development,”Reaffirming that the family is not only the fundamental group unit of society but is also the fundamental agent for sustainable, social, economic and cultural development,Stressing the importance of designing, implementing and monitoring family-oriented policies, especially in the areas of poverty eradication, full employment and decent work, work family balance and social integration and intergenerational solidarity,Emphasizing that the achievement of development goals especially those relating to the eradication of poverty, education of children, especially girls and reduction in maternal mortality depends, to a significant extent, on how families are empowered to fulfill their numerous functions,Emphasizing further that strategic focus on families offers a comprehensive approach to solving some of the persistent development challenges such as inequality and social exclusion,

Call To Action Vienna 17 June 2014 We, people involved with the HIV epidemic in conservative social settings as religious leaders, civil society actors, people living with HIV, and well-informed experts, gathered for the consultation meeting entitled “Overcoming HIV in Conservative Social Settings” on 29-30 April 2014, hosted by OFID in Vienna, Austria. Our aim was to increase understanding about the current status of HIV in conservative social settings, particularly amongst vulnerable, highly-affected, and underserved communities, known as Key Affected Populations (KAPs). After having considered the challenges, successes and good practices, we call for urgent action to improve the lives of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in conservative social settings in the form of an evidence-based response to HIV. We, the participants of this meeting, recognize and support the human rights of people living with HIV. We recognize that the epidemic in the region is concentrated, disproportionately affecting Key Affected Populations, namely sex workers, people who inject drugs, and men who have sex with men. However, these populations are integral members of society and there is a real need for greater awareness of HIV issues among the wider public. The current situation shows high levels of stigma and discrimination, low coverage of HIV testing and counselling as well as low treatment coverage and adherence, a lack of demand for comprehensive HIV services, and the continued enforcement of discriminatory, stigmatizing and harmful laws targeting Key Affected Populations in most countries within conservative settings. The prevalence of civil unrest, instability, as well as the low status of women and the poor protection of rights of migrant workers add to the complexity of the situation.

Call for Action on Universal Access to HIV testing and treatment in the MENA region, Casablanca, Morocco. 25 April 2014 We, the representatives of ministries of health, National AIDS Programme Managers, civilsociety, academia, people living with HIV and partners in the MENA region participating in theREGIONAL CONSULTATION MEETING ON RE‐TARGETING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TOANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA organized inCasablanca on 24‐25 of April, by UNAIDS,Having considered the need for revised target for national AIDS responses to end AIDS by2030 including universal access to strategic use of antiretroviral medicines for treatment andprevention of HIV;Acknowledging that many countries in the Middle East and North Africa remain with gaps intreatment coverage and prevention of mother to child transmission to bridge;Stressing the importance of full implementation of the WHO 2013 consolidated guidelines onthe use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection;Reaffirming the October 2013 resolution by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committeeof the WHO following the call by WHO EMRO and UNAIDS for Accelerating HIV treatment inthe WHO Eastern Mediterranean and UNAIDS Middle East and North Africa regions;Using the opportunity provided by the new political commitment materialized through theArab AIDS Strategy developed by the League of Arab States with UNAIDS support andendorsed by the Council of Arab Health Ministers in March 2014 setting an objective of 80per cent ART coverage and elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV by 2020;

In Brief (UNAIDS Egypt News Letter) 1 January 2013 “I feel I’m empowered to defend the rights of people living with HIV in their access to treatment and provide stigma free healthcare services”. Healthcare professionals at Kasr El Aini medical school attended HIV training for providing stigma and discrimination free services for people living with HIV. Also one of the youths suggests “HIV does not make people dangerous, so you can shake hands and give them a hug” at “Best Slogan” competition on International Volunteers Day. There are more and more people who gain their understanding and compassion for living with HIV in Egypt. We can all contribute to make a change in the Egyptian society.Contents:Stigma Free Healthcare Services for People Living with HIV.International Volunteers Day.The Youth ‘Take the Floor’ on the Occasion of International Women’s Day.Strengthening Public Health Law in Egypt.

In Brief (UNAIDS Egypt News Letter) 1 December 2012 “Working as an outreach worker is my lifeline” Ahmed used to share needles and injecting equipment for using drugs, and a medical doctor diagnosed him as HIV positive. After rehabilitation and retaining his own health condition, he now works at an NGO in Alexandria to provide health information to those in need and people using drugs welcome them for their support. “I was able to help people like me, since I went through everything they are experiencing”. Contents:Media Academy Reaching Out to Media.Red Gala Dinner –Advocacy for Women and Children affected by HIV.The Outstanding Journey of Outreach Workers: From substance abuse to Positive Role Models in their Communities.Women of Egypt, a silenced voice heard.Youth @ UNAIDS.

In Brief (UNAIDS Egypt News Letter) 1 September 2012 “I am a refugee living in Egypt. I attend Refugee Egypt support group for people living with HIV. I am happy because I can speak freely with my sisters who are having the same sickness”. She left her home country and conflicts with the little that she had and came to Egypt. The displacement prevents refugees from accessing sexual health services and makes them vulnerable to gender based violence all along the exile, asylum and return journey. Find out the details in In Brief September 2012 issue.  Contents:Population mobility, migration, conflicts, displacement and HIV vulnerability.UNAIDS welcomes creative youth initiatives.HIV outreach and support to ‘Horreya’  .Spotlight on a youth initiative, Y-Peer.Women’s vulnerability to HIV in Egypt.Women living with HIV have tools for livelihood security.The 12th International AIDS Conference.

Integrated Behavioral and Biological Surveillance Survey among Injecting Drug Users (IDU) in Tanger and Nador, Morocco, 2012 1 August 2012 This report presents findings of the first round of an integrated behavioural and biological surveillance (IBBS) survey conducted among Injecting drug users (IDU) in Tanger (2010-2011) and Nador (2011-2012), Morocco. The primary objective of this survey was to provide information on the prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) infection and associated risk factors among IDUS to inform programmatic and policy responses and to provide a baseline from which epidemic trends should be monitored.