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Involvement of positive people

The idea that the personal experiences of people living with HIV could and should be translated into helping to shape a response to the AIDS epidemic was first voiced in 1983 at a national AIDS conference in the USA. In Australia, this same idea was a rallying cry for HIV-positive people attending the 1988 National AIDS Conference in Hobart – the event that led to the founding of NAPWA.

At the Paris AIDS Summit in 1994, 42 countries – including Australia – declared the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS (GIPA) to be critical to ethical and effective national responses to the epidemic.

Today the GIPA principle is the backbone of many interventions worldwide. People living with, or affected by HIV are involved in a wide variety of activities at all levels of the fight against AIDS; from appearing on posters, bearing personal testimony, and supporting and counseling others with HIV, to participating in major decision- and policy-making activities.NAPWA's involvement at all levels of the Australian response to HIV is an expression of the GIPA principle.

Address to the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference

Story • Robert Mitchell • 9 September 2009

“HIV prevention must be supported from an evidence base of best health promotion practice and with respect for the rights and dignity of those living with HIV,” NAPWA president Robert Mitchell has told today’s opening ceremony of the 21st Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference. read more »

From PLWHA to PLHIV

Story • Robert Mitchell • 10 June 2009

NAPWA’s decision to move away from using the term ‘HIV/AIDS’ to ‘HIV’ (and from ‘PLWHA’ to ‘PLHIV’) has generated some debate. NAPWA president Robert Mitchell explains the reasons behind the change. read more »

20 years of one voice

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

NAPWA turned 20 the other day and we threw a party. I’m not usually big on parties but this one was different. It felt like everyone was having the birthday and unlike those just-for-the-sake-of-it once-a-year affairs we all really deserved a celebration . . . read more »

NAPWA Positive Women endorse new Terms of reference (TOR)

Story • Scott Lockhart • 30 January 2008

NAPWA positve women have recently endorsed new Terms of reference for the advisory group. read more »

Prevention is everybody’s business

Positive Living article • Robert Mitchell • 1 December 2007

This year’s World AIDS Day theme presents an opportunity for people living with HIV to talk about our role in response to the HIV epidemic in this country, writes NAPWA President Robert Mitchell. read more »

IAS Conference opens with spotlight on politics

Story • Paul Kidd • 23 July 2007

The 4th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention has opened in Sydney with calls for increased funding for HIV research, and a powerful rejection of the Australian Prime Minister's plans to tighten restrictions on immigration by people living with HIV/AIDS. read more »

Rising HIV levels: why we should care and what we can do

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 22 March 2007

HIV infections are on the rise nationwide, and the government is planning an advertising blitz aimed at gay men. If HIV is making a comeback, should positive gay men care? And if we do care, what can we do? read more »

Many faces, different stories

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 21 December 2006

The 19th World AIDS Day was marked across Australia on December 1, with speeches, concerts, and warnings about increasing numbers of new infections. read more »

Reflections on the 2006 IAC Conference in Toronto

Positive Living article • John Rock • 5 October 2006

While there has been “slow but useful progress on many fronts,” the global response to HIV/AIDS is still too slow and too weak, writes JOHN ROCK. read more »

HIV: Who Cares?

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 13 July 2006

A landmark high-level United Nations meeting has failed to make any firm commitment to increased access to HIV treatment, despite energetic lobbying by AIDS activists to head off a weakened international response to HIV/AIDS. read more »

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HIV Clinical Trials update

Recently updated entries from the NAPWA Clinical Trials database.

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