YWCAs in Europe respond to the HIV and AIDS pandemic
European YWCAs will gather in Albania this week to attend a special HIV skills building workshop in Durres, from July 7– July 11, 2008 facilitated by the World YWCA. In partnership with the YWCA of Albania and UNAIDS Albania, the workshop builds on the ‘Communicating Positively‘ training held in Mexico City last year and the 'The Way Forward – Knowing What Works' workshop that took place in Ghana in April, 2008.
The purpose of the workshop is to strengthen the work of YWCAs in Europe on HIV and AIDS in order to improve the lives of women, girls and children, in particular those living with HIV and AIDS. “We are committed to addressing the issue of HIV and AIDS in Europe,” says Natallia Aleksandrovich, World YWCA Programme Director for Europe who is attending the meeting.
UNAIDS reported that an estimated 150,000 people were newly infected with HIV in 2007, brining the number of people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to 1.6 million. “We are holding this workshop so women and young women can gain skills in effective AIDS responses that include prevention, care, support and advocacy that also responds to HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination,” says Aleksandrovich.
