2024-03-01 18:49:03
A historic alliance has just been formed between Expertise France, the French international technical cooperation agency, and UNAIDS, the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS. The two actors signed, on Wednesday February 28, a partnership agreement worth 1.9 million euros, aimed at combating stigma and discrimination linked to HIV in six African countries: Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic and Senegal.
The signing ceremony took place at the permanent representation of France to the United Nations in Geneva, in the presence of representatives of the countries concerned.
A project focused on human rights and vulnerable populations
According to a joint statement, this partnership has the specific objective of strengthening community initiatives and legislative frameworks to effectively combat HIV. It is part of L’Initiative, a French facility complementary to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, managed by Expertise France.
The ambition is to promote access to HIV-related health services, respectful of human rights, for vulnerable groups, in particular young women and girls, it is specified. The project will be led by the UNAIDS regional office for West and Central Africa, with the support of local partners.
A response adapted to the needs of the populations most affected by HIV
HIV prevalence in these regions disproportionately affects certain populations, with significant rates among sex workers, sexual minorities, and prisoners, compared to the general population.
The partnership therefore aims, underlined by both parties, to improve legal and social responses to HIV, to reduce gender inequalities and gender-based violence, and to promote a legal framework that respects human rights.
It will primarily focus on how to facilitate access to legal services for populations most marginalized and affected by HIV, including sex workers, people who use drugs, women and girls living with HIV, and others.
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