The
AIDS Consortium is human rights organisation committed to openness and
non-discrimination on the basis of HIV/AIDS. The AC supports a 1000-strong
affiliate network of AIDS Service Organizations and individuals. Services
include Training, Advocacy, Libraries, Distribution hubs, Cyber cafés,
Community fora and networks, building AIDS Competent communities and
bridging the gap between local and national, communities and SANAC.
19
June 2009 :: Re-igniting the passion of Human Rights in the era of HIV
Today, as The AIDS Consortium re-launch the HIV and AIDS Charter, many
people living with HIV continue to have their rights violated by those
that love them, strangers, healthcare workers, work place colleagues,
communities and their families – hence the necessity of reaffirming
a 17 year old document. Almost three decades into the epidemic, stigma
(internal and external) remains a deterrent to accessing HIV testing,
treatment and a positive lifestyle and inhibits the attainment of the
National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV and AIDS 2007 -2011 goals.
To
deliver an address on this prestigious document is Justice Edwin Cameron,
Constitutional Court Judge, founder and patron of The AIDS Consortium,
who was also one of the three lawyers who drafted the initial document.
Mark Heywood, in his capacity as the Deputy Chairperson of the South
African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and a Government official from
the Department of Health have been invited to deliver a message of endorsement
for this document. As part of the proceedings, The AIDS Consortium will
also share, through a video, public’s opinion around the rights
of people living with HIV and AIDS.
The
Charter follows the Freedom Charter of South Africa, the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and was a forerunner to the Bill of Rights in the Constitution
of South Africa 1996. It continues to complement these and other policy
frameworks, such as The National Health Act and The National Strategic
Plan, and acts as a guide for other international Charters.
“This
re-launch is the beginning of a process of engagement, where The AIDS
Consortium calls for further interrogation and discussions on stigma
and discrimination as one of the root deterrents to positive living.
This document will hopefully one day become invalid as all people will
be upholding the rights of people living with HIV” says Denise
Hunt, Executive Director of The AIDS Consortium.
The
AIDS Consortium calls on every South African to take this opportunity
to re-ignite the passion of activism by interacting with this document
and taking ownership for its implementation.
To download the AC CHARTER as a PDF document, click
here...
19
June 2009 :: 2008 Annual Report
Our latest annual
report has been published and is not available for download as a PDF
file. To obtain an electronic copy, click
here...
12
June 2009 :: VIDEOS NOW
ONLINE
The AC has recently
been capturing the interviews of our monthly HEROES on video. To see
or download these videos, please visit our new VIDEO page by clicking
here...
03
June 2009 :: LATEST INFO
PACKS
Please click here to obtain our May
and June 2009 Info Packs, along with others from 2009.
28
May 2009 :: VACANCIES
The AC has a vacancy for a Training Manager, with applications
closing on 17 June 2009. Click
here to learn more...
18
May 2009 :: CELEBRATING
PARTNERSHIPS – AC LAUNCH OFFICES IN LIMPOPO
Only
two months after launching an office in the North West, The AC is at
it again, but this time, in Limpopo. On Monday, 11 May, The AIDS Consortium
(national network of over 1000 HIV and AIDS organisations), opened their
doors to over 35 selected delegates who came to witness the launch of
their new offices in Limpopo. The office is situated in Polokwane -
41 Hans van Rensburg Street, Rampies Building, Office no.4. Different
stakeholders honoured the invitation, amongst them was government (Department
of Labour), Corporate (Anglo Platinum), Community/Civil Society partners
(loveLife, New Start, TAC etc), media and other sectors.

The
expansion of The AC into Limpopo is made possible by Irish Aid, a funding
partner in the province. “We support this initiative and will
continue supporting such initiatives in the province” said Ms.
Tamara Mathebula, the HIV & AIDS Programme Advisor from Irish Aid.
The AIDS Consortium’s implementing partners in the province are
Choice Trust and the AIDS Foundation of South Africa. Fiona Macdonald,
Executive Trustee of Choice Trust used the analogy of marriage for this
partnership “there will be good times and challenging times, but
we want to hold the learnings and knowledge gained to be able to enhance
good practices of civil society”.
Delegates were taken through the office which boasts an Information
Centre consisting of a Cyber Cafe, a mini HIV and AIDS library and distribution
centre. This office is now fully operational and is open from 08h00
till 16h30.
“This
is indeed a celebration of partnerships and we really look forward to
working together with all of you. The commitment shown by our partners
is remarkable!” said Denise Hunt, Executive Director of The AIDS
Consortium.
Heroes
Campaign 2009

Tender
Mavundla
AIDS HERO - June 2009
When
she revealed her HIV status on the popular talent show Idols in September
2007, she had already been living with HIV for more than six years.
Her courage and commitment to making a contribution in the fight against
HIV and AIDS is what pushed this determined young Diva to use this
platform to raise HIV awareness in millions of audiences. Tender Mavundla,
AIDS Consortium’s June Heroine is indeed a change agent. This
was apparent from her interaction this week with over 200 bua@AC (HIV
and AIDS monthly networking and information forum) attendees, most
of whom were young people who were excited by her music, but also
curious to hear her story.
Tender
challenged young people to step up and take control of their lives.
She made a strong appeal to young men to be more involved in their
relationships and take HIV seriously. To young women, she shared her
previous experience of being afraid to insist upon condom use, which
“has left a permanent scar in my life”. “For you,
it doesn’t have to be like this; I had to grow up so quickly
because of my circumstances” she added. To all young people,
she urged them to “wait until you are ready, don’t give
in to peer pressure”, which is what she attributed to her losing
her virginity prematurely.
Her
soon to be released album is titled Tender Moments and promises to
be a hit. Just like everyone, this young woman has fears and joys
and yet she is not afraid to claim her future.
About
the HEROES Campaign
The “Heroes campaign” is an AIDS Consortium initiative
responding to this negative perception of classifying HIV and AIDS
as an outcome of sexual excess and low moral character. This perception
discourages disclosure and fuels stigma and discrimination.
This campaign aims to eradicate stigma and discrimination on the basis
of one’s HIV status by encouraging discussion and disclosure.
Through sharing their personal journeys, prominent people living openly
with HIV are the chosen custodians of this campaign. Through a poster
and a video clip, the ‘hero’ is profiled and shares his/her
journey in dealing with the outcome of their disclosure. This is meant
to open channels of communication and encourage discussions around
stigma and discrimination. This campaign is a call to prominent people
to ‘come out’ and normalise HIV.
LATEST
NEWSLETTER :: APRIL 2009
To
download our latest Newsletter in PDF, click
here...
Latest Info Packs
The
above info packs open as MS Word documents
Themes for 2009
| Quarter
1 |
Quarter
2 |
Prevention
Strategy
Multiple Concurrent partners
Male Circumcision
|
Treatment
, care and support
Health care workers
TB and ART
Youth and children
Social services / grants
|
| Quarter
3 |
Quarter
4 |
Monitoring & Surveillance
Planning
Implementation
Reporting
|
Human Rights
Gender
Vulnerable groups
Heroes campaign culmination
|
Stigma
and Discrimination – Heroes Campaign
|
25
February 2009
AIDS
NETWORK HITS THE NORTH WEST
The
AIDS Consortium (national network of over 1000 HIV and AIDS organisations),
yesterday opened their doors to over 30 selected delegates who came
to witness the launch of their new offices in Rustenburg (Cnr. Boom
& Pretorius – Old Mutual Building).
The launch took place following a vigorous debate hosted and facilitated
by The AIDS Consortium (AC) at the Rustenburg Old Town Hall, as part
of their monthly bua@AC (HIV and AIDS networking and information forum).
Over 140 delegates attended the bua and were told about the launch,
but could not all attend the launch due to the AC’s office capacity.

This
launch was made possible by support from Oxfam America (one of The AC’s
funding partners). “We see this partnership as an extension of
the services that Oxfam America is providing to the North West, Rustenburg
community” said an excited Mr. Ian Mashingaidze, Oxfam’s
Regional Director before cutting the ribbon, thus formally launching
the Rustenburg based AC office.

Delegates were taken through the office which boasts an Information
Centre consisting of a Cyber Cafe, a mini HIV and AIDS library and distribution
centre.
This office is now fully operational and is open from 08h30 till 17h00.
“The AC is excited and ready to serve this community” said
Denise Hunt, Executive Director of The AIDS Consortium.
The
Aids Consortium Monthly Themes
The
dates for 2009 have been updated!

BUA@AC has reached out to more than 2500 people across three provinces
(Limpopo, North West, and Gauteng)
GP bua@AC will now be held on the first Tuesday of each month –
please note venue has changed to: AC office, 41 De Korte Street, 7th
Floor, Sable Centre, Braamfontein
|
KNOW
WHEN BUA WILL HAPPEN
The following are regular meeting days
|
| Gauteng |
: |
first
Tuesday of each month (Except December) |
| Limpopo |
: |
second
Tuesday of each month (Except January) |
| North-West |
: |
second
Tuesday of each month (Except January) |
| 2009
DATES FOR BUA
updated as of 05-02-2009
|
| |
Gauteng |
Limpopo |
North-West |
January
|
* |
* |
* |
February
|
03rd |
24th |
24th |
March
|
03rd |
10th |
10th |
April
|
07th |
14th |
14th |
May
|
05th |
12th |
12th |
June
|
02nd |
09th |
09th |
July
|
07th |
14th |
14th |
August
|
04th |
11th |
11th |
September
|
01st |
08th |
08th |
October
|
06th |
13th |
13th |
November
|
03rd |
10th |
10th |
If you would like to attend any of these meetings, please send an email
to: info@aidsconsortium.org.za
All are welcome!
Click
here for the invitation in PowerPoint
"bua"
is a Sotho word meaning “talk”; it was commonly used at
activists’ meetings in the apartheid struggle. When one was making
a valid point and the supporters wanted to support his/her statement,
they would just say “bua”, which encouraged freedom of expression.
These sessions also encouraged networking, comradeship and skills transfer.
This epitomises the AC monthly meetings, hence – bua@AC.
The AIDS Consortium bua sessions stand out as a pioneering
initiative, bringing together over 400 (throughout three provinces)
HIV and AIDS and human rights activists monthly to discuss topical issues,
hence a different theme each month. These have taken place for 17 years
and are thus renowned in the sector.
The forum encourages
networking, skills transfer, debates and discussions that challenge
the myths, beliefs and behaviours that continue to drive incidence,
human rights violations and stigma and discrimination. Well renowned
in the HIV and AIDS sector, the forum is largely aimed at NGOs, FBOs,
CBOs and activists in the HIV and AIDS field, but does not exclude any
interested community members.
2008
31
August 2008
Presentation-
overall conference
Greater
Involvement of PLHIV
HIV
Prevention interventions and research
27
May 2008
The
2007 financial year Annual Report is now available for download:
Click
here
MONTHLY THEMES
2008: (To view Info Packs, click on the links provided below)