Moldovan Campaign Platform

Summary

An initial consultation visit was held by WAC’s Global Programme Officer in July 2009, identifying key civil society organizations with which to work. Potential in-country Project Officer candidates were interviewed, and there was liaison with key stakeholders to obtain a better understanding of the HIV epidemic and the response in Moldova. The UNAIDS country office support in the preparations for this visit proved invaluable.

An in-country Project Officer was hired on a four-month consultancy basis, and was instrumental in planning and organising Programme activities during that time, including the National Campaigners event and WAC involvement in the country’s World AIDS Day activities.

WAC held its first Moldova National Campaigners Meeting in October 2009, bringing together over 30 key stakeholders to discuss the concept of a national HIV advocacy platform. In addition, the participants explored possible issues for advocacy, which had been raised during the previous consultation visit, and looked at how civil society could effectively campaign to hold their political leaders accountable for their commitments.

Mission and Vision

• An inclusive and diverse PLHIV movement-centered, civil society-led structure that is sustainable;
• A structure which thinks and acts strategically to achieve Universal Access through campaigning, advocacy and lobbying; and
• A structure, which is realistic about the need to act with others regionally and globally in addressing the barriers to achieving Universal Access.

Current Campaigns

A number of organisations have agreed to work on a campaign around increased government spending on HIV treatment.

The Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism conducted an online survey to determine which of four issues the HIV campaigners considered the most relevant. Over 180 votes were cast and Increase in government spending on the HIV response generated the majority of votes.

Other

On World AIDS Day December 1^st 2009, WAC partnered with UNAIDS Moldova, the League and others to host the first Red Ribbon awards in the country. In addition WAC partnered with the National Human Rights institute to screen a film related to HIV and human rights during the Human Rights Film Festival that took place from 3–10 December, 2009 to commemorate 20 years since ratification of the International Declaration of Human Rights by Moldova. WAC also collaborated with the League, UNAIDS and the Soros Foundation in organising an event on AIDS Memorial Day in May 2010.