Monday, December 28, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Dear,

Dear,

Happy New Year!

AIBO is the monogram from the pinyin of "艾"and"博" which mean"HIV/AIDS" and "MUSEUM". This represents the dream that oneday an HIV/AIDS museum will be established in China, a dream held by many people but started by a Chinese HIV/AIDS activist Chang Kun who has been doing HIV/AIDS works for six years and has promised to devote his life career on HIV/AIDS.

Because of legal and political factors in China, the AIBO Fund is kind of a public Piggy Bank that is transparent, with records posted on websites. Anyone who would like to support ChangKun and his activists will put donation into AIBO Fund.

Now, the main mission of AIBO Fund is keeping running the websites "AIDSWIKI.org" and "AIDSMUSEUM.cn". It's very hard to run the two websites because Chinese government always try to use different excuse to shut them down.

AIDSwiki.org is a Chinese HIV/AIDS website based on Wikipedia technology, it has been shut down three times, the last time was on Nov,2009, strategically just before Dec 1^st, 2009, which is World AIDS Day, the theme of which is "Universal Access and Human Rights". Even after we refused some interviews about it (for various reasons), Radio free Asia also made their own short message regarding this.[http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/AIDS-12012009100849.html?textonly=1]

AIDSMUSEUM.cn was forced to shut down on May 7,2008. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China in the USA has reported this issue:China Continues to Crack Down on HIV/AIDS Web Sites and Activists [http://www.cecc.gov/pages/virtualAcad/index.phpd?showsingle=106348]

Here is a chronicle of events in Chinese, if you are interested in it, please feel free to visit: http://chinaaidsgroup.blogspot.com/2009/11/china-aids4908-172009icp.html

From 2008 to Dec 22,2009, We have raised fund 1266.86 dollar (U.S. Dollar,1 U.S dollar=6.82 RMB, the same below) ,expensed 1528.89 dollar.

So that, we need to raise fund 262.03 dollar to cover deficit in 2009, and we also must raise fund for rebuilding AIDSWIKI websites and other activities.

Our target is to raise fund 1466.28 dollars totally for rebuilding AIDSWIKI

We appreciate that many friends and persons have been giving us strong supports! We strongly believe that the reason we can keep working continually and passionately because you always support and help us righteously and generously!

We promise that we always keep any information openly on websites, and we prefer that you can monitor our works and give us suggestions!

We also know, because of the economic crisis, most of us have to tighten our belts. However, we would like you to donate something small as you gift of Christmas and New Year!

Thank you very much! You can read more info at https://sites.google.com/site/chinaaidsmuseum

You can donate on Papal: changkunchina@gmail.com

Please feel free to connect us:
Chang Kun
www.changkun.org
E-mail:changkunchina@gmail.com
Cell phone: +1 619 365 5686（US）

--
Cell: +1 (619) 365-5686

http://www.changkun.org

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To start sending messages to members of this group, simply
send email to aidsrights@googlegroups.com

If you do wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
subscribe by sending an email to aidsrights-subscribe@googlegroups.com

If you do not wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
unsubscribe by sending an email to
aidsrights-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

★AIDS RIGHTS :http://www.aidsrights.net http://www.twitter.com/aidsrights
★AIDS WIKI :http://www.aidswiki.cn
★http://www.changkun.org

Monday, December 7, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Fwd: [Tbhiv] Winners of the 2009 Kochon Prize announced

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Javid Syed <javid.syed@treatmentactiongroup.org>
Date: Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Subject: [Tbhiv] Winners of the 2009 Kochon Prize announced
To: internationaltreatmentpreparedness@yahoogroups.com, tbhiv@critpath.org

Ms Lucy Chesire and Professor Stewart Cole will share this year's Kochon prize, which is awarded annually to persons, institutions or organizations that have made a highly significant contribution to combating tuberculosis (TB), a disease that still causes more than nine million illnesses and 1.7 million deaths each year. The selections were announced at the opening ceremony of the World Conference of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, held in Cancun, Mexico, today.

Ms Chesire is a leading international advocate who has played a critical role in spurring awareness worldwide of the dangers of TB/HIV co-infection. A nutritionist by profession, she learned she was HIV-positive in 1992 and was the first female health professional in Kenya to publicly acknowledge her status. In 2000 she was diagnosed with TB, which resulted in several surgeries and a seven-month hospital stay. She has transformed the experience of surviving TB into a passionate commitment to help achieve TB prevention and treatment for all people living with HIV, no matter who they are or where they live. She served as the first patient representative on the Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board; and has worked closely with RESULTS as an adviser and spokesperson on a number of key advocacy initiatives in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Professor Cole, Director of the Global Health Institute at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, is responsible for groundbreaking research on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the microorganism that causes TB. In 1998 Dr Cole directed a team that determined the complete genetic sequence of M tuberculosis -- a piece of work that has been fundamental for the development of new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines. He also has done pioneering work on the evolution of M tuberculosis, the mechanisms through which it causes disease and how it becomes resistant to drugs. His team is currently leading an international project to discover new drugs to treat TB. He is the former Scientific Director of the Institute Pasteur and Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur (Services to Science).

The winners will each receive the Kochon Medal and will divide the prize money, an award of US$ 65 000. There were also two award recipients last year: Dr Jaime Bayona of Socios en Salud in Peru and Professor Emeritus Denis Mitchison, formerly of the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in Hammersmith (now Imperial College), United Kingdom.

Link to the Note to the Media

--
Javid Syed
TB/HIV Project Director
Treatment Action Group
Ph: 212 253 7922
Fax: 212 253 7923
javid.syed@treatmentactiongroup.org
www.treatmentactiongroup.org

--
http://www.changkun.org

Thursday, December 3, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Fwd: NGO Delays China's first govt-backed gay bar

Delays to China's first govt-backed gay bar: NGO

(AFP) – 7 hours ago

BEIJING — Volunteers have delayed opening China's first government-backed gay bar following intense media attention, an NGO said Wednesday, highlighting the still taboo nature of homosexuality in the country.

"They were scared their identity would be revealed, that it would lead to misunderstanding and changes in their lives," said Zhang Jianbo, founder of the Dali HIV/AIDS prevention and health association, the NGO behind the initiative.

The bar in Dali, a tourist town in the southwestern province of Yunnan, aimed to provide a place where homosexuals could meet in a relaxed atmosphere and get information about HIV/AIDS prevention, he told AFP by phone.

China's health ministry warned on Tuesday that homosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS was gaining pace. Zhang, a doctor at a hospital in Dali, said raising awareness of the disease among the gay community was "extremely important."

The bar was due to open on December 1 -- World AIDS Day -- with the support of the local government, which had invested 120,000 yuan (17,600 dollars) in the NGO, he said.

"Our government leader asked me whether we could open it today, but I said the volunteers did not want to," Zhang said, pointing out that journalists and photographers had descended en masse on Dali following news of the bar's opening.

"If we open a place for an underground group, and if news is published about our target group and our volunteers in this way, it will influence their lives," he said.

"The volunteers (also gay) themselves called a democratic meeting and
decided to delay the opening, and when they think the issue has moved on, then they will open it and continue their work."

Homosexuality in China -- where it was officially considered a mental
illness until 2001 -- is still an extremely sensitive issue.

Gay men and women in China find it difficult to come out to their friends and family. One of the reasons lies in the nation's one-child policy, which makes parents rely on their only child to marry and have grandchildren.

The official China Daily newspaper said in 2005 that the number of
homosexuals in China came to around 30 million, although it conceded few were willing to acknowledge their sexuality.

Statements from government departments and academic reports have put the figure at approximately 15 million, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/copyright?hl=en>

------------------------------------

Monday, November 30, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 ASAP's new President Zahid Hussein's Message on World AIDS Day

From: Zahid Hussein <zahid7@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 11:06

Dear Colleagues

Greetings.

As we all muster our energies together against HIV and AIDS today on World AIDS DAy (WAD), it gives me great pleasure to thank Myung and many other eminent people before and with him to bring us where we are today.

I have always believed in the "invincible new" which is a continuum that brings forth the past, binds it together with the present and helps us plan (and dream) for the future. We are all striving for a cause which renews us as individuals every day so that we can work better - collectively.

Please allow me to thank each one of you for being a part of ASAP's dynamic outlook as an organisation that has sworn to uphold the interests of a diversity of people; PLWHAs, high risk and vulnerable communities, GLBT, and the majority which has provided unflinching support to the communities over decades.

I would like to comment here that we will not have a policy of mutual exclusion of one view point with the other. Or replacement of one sexual orientation with the other! Since humanity is interdependent,so are all of us bearing different faiths, orientations, professions and obligations.

I will be as keen to promote the interests of struggling post-exposure persons as we will be to prevent pre-exposure prevention.

On this day,I am with you all to work harder together to contribute to a multisectoral, multifaith and multiethnic struggle against HIV and AIDS.

WAD is not a ritual to be observed this day every year, it is a guide to action; a reminder to renew our commitment, organise our resources and gear up synergies to fight!

Once again, I humbly thank all colleagues whose consent and dissenting opinions have helped me grow over the years.

Best regards.

Zahid Hussein
President, ASAP

【AIDS RIGHTS】 "Blogging Positively": E-Guide, WAD Chat (Dec 3), and Project

Dear Friends,

Rising Voices (http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org) is pleased to announce the release of "Blogging Positively," a collection of case studies, interviews, and best practices about citizen media related to HIV/AIDS.

Copies in PDF form can be downloaded here: http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/guides

In this e-guide, you will be introduced to some of the leaders and veterans of the HIV/AIDS-related blogging community, and also to citizen media projects which aim to spread more awareness about the pandemic. The guide contains tips for workshop facilitators and teachers, and points readers to helpful resources for new bloggers just getting started.

The project began two years ago when Kenyan blogger, Serina Kalande, volunteered to lead a working group for Rising Voices--the outreach arm of Global Voices Online--to discuss how citizen media can best be implemented in the field of HIV/AIDS.

Rising Voices is especially interested in how new media tools can be used most effectively to spread awareness and encourage discussion about HIV/AIDS-related topics. We also wanted to better understand some of the risks and obstacles facing bloggers who are HIV-positive, or who regularly write about HIV/AIDS-related topics.

Four online chats brought together people from all over the world, and from a wide range of fields. In addition to this guide, the participants of the chats and others are collaborating on the creation of a map-based directory of people and groups who blog about HIV/AIDS.

This is a link to the map: http://is.gd/545x4

If you are an HIV-positive blogger, someone who blogs about HIV/AIDS, or if you have suggestions for links to add to the directory, please contact Global Voices Public Health Editor, Juhie Bhatia (juhiebhatia@gmail.com), or the Blogging Positively Guide creator and co-editor, Janet Feldman (kaippg@earthlink.net).

The importance and impact of this guide depends on our collective ability to get it into the hands of activists, and to encourage their contributions to the worldwide conversation that is taking place daily at the Global Voices website (http://globalvoicesonline.org). Please consider sharing this with your network of friends and blogging about it. If there are HIV/AIDS organizations and support groups in your region, please send them a copy of the guide.

World AIDS Day "Blogging Positively" Chat: December 3, 2009 at 11am EST (USA)

To join us, please visit: http://www.worknets.org/chat/base

Select "English" and press "Next". We will create chat rooms for other languages if the opportunity arises.

The chat will begin at 11am EST (Boston-New York). This is 2pm (Buenos Aires), 4pm (London), 6pm (Cape Town, Beirut), 7pm (Nairobi), 9:30pm (New Delhi) 12am (Dec 4) (Beijing, Manila), 1am (Tokyo), 3am (Dec 4) (Sydney).

For other WAD coverage at Global Voices Online: http://globalvoicesonline.org

Thanks and hope you will join us for one or all of these activities!

Janet Feldman
ActALIVE (www.actalive.org)

KAIPPG International (www.kaippg.org)
Creator and Co-Editor, Blogging Positively Guide (Rising Voices)

kaippg@earthlink.net

Sunday, November 29, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Chinese AIDS Wiki website (www.aidswiki.org ) was closed down forcibly.

Chinese AIDS Wiki website (www.aidswiki.org ) was closed down forcibly. We think the reason is possibly because the AIDS Wiki have been rocording a lot of special programs about Human rights issues and a movement called "Hunger strike for AIDS" which will be held on Dec 1st World AIDS Day as the Third Annual one (http://www.hungerstrikeforaids.org/blog/). This is the third time AIDSWIKI was shut down. http://chinaaidsgroup.blogspot.com/2009/11/china-aids4908-172009icp.html http://hellotxt.com/l/YPVUCh

less than 1 minute ago from jabber Add comment

Monday, November 9, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 UNICEF and Xinhua join forces to promote children’s rights

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HREA <noreply@hrea.org>
Date: Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Subject: UNICEF and Xinhua join forces to promote children's rights
To: changkunchina@gmail.com

Joint efforts to raise awareness and action to reach a global audience

BEIJING, 5 November 2009 – UNICEF and Xinhua News Agency today signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining joint plans to promote better understanding of the situation of children worldwide. The efforts will culminate on 20 November 2009, Universal Children's Day, the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. On that date, UNICEF will launch a special edition of its State of the World's Children Report and Xinhua will produce a 24 hour live television broadcast called the "Global News Day for Children."

"The Convention on the Rights of the Child is one of the few global commitments that link together virtually every country on the planet in common action," said Dr Yin Yin Nwe, the UNICEF Representative signing the agreement in Beijing today, "even so there is a vast gap between what the whole world has agreed to and what actually happens to children everywhere. That's why we are so pleased to get the message of children's rights out loudly by joining forces with one of the largest media organizations in the world."

The new UNICEF-Xinhua agreement kicks off a global partnership of news reporting about children through all of Xinhua's multi-media channels and 117 international bureaus. UNICEF will collaborate with Xinhua journalists on coverage of children's issues, sharing its expertise and on-the-ground knowledge of the situation of children in the more than 150 countries where it operates.

"The global media campaign for children and the 24 hour television coverage planned for Universal Children's Day on 20 November is an initiative jointly promoted by Xinhua News Agency and UNICEF, with strong support from hundreds of media organizations," said Mr. Zhou Xisheng, Deputy Executive Director of Xinhua News Agency, "It aims to raise awareness of children's situation throughout the world, and to promote the protection of child rights by governments as well as the general public, with special emphasis on the media sector's social responsibility toward children."

Xinhua plans to produce comprehensive internet, television, photography and text coverage of children's issues to improve public awareness of children's rights and interests, and to promote increased actions from the world's citizens for children.

In an effort to amplify the effect of the program and live coverage, Xinhua has designed a logo for the "Global news Day for Children" child rights advocacy activities and the 24-hour global broadcast.

Global news Day for children highlights

- Xinhua journalists will work with local civil society groups in various countries to produce special profiles of 10 children affected by complex challenges such as armed conflict, environmental degradation, natural disaster poverty, disability and poor access to education and health, to present the human side of the situation of children.

- A global children's photography campaign: "Children's Eyes on the World", will be organized to highlight the life and dreams of children from their own perspectives.

- An internet poll on the current situation and future development of children will collect and report opinions from all parts of the world.

- An official website of the program and media coverage was launched Thursday by www.xinhuanet.com and www.chinaview.cn for subscribers to browse, download the logo and acquire other information pertaining to the event.

- From 8 a.m. (Beijing time) on Nov. 20, Xinhua will work with all participating media organizations to launch a 24-hour, multimedia "relay" coverage on six continents. It will include the sharing of TV specials on children, joint TV coverage of the global events marking Universal Children's Day, exchanges of TV programs and the live broadcasts of text, photos, audio and video on each other's platforms.

- Xinhua has mobilized all its 33 domestic bureaus and 117 overseas branches to provide subscribers with news and information in text, photos, graphics, audio, video, online and text message formats and in eight languages: Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and Japanese.

- Starting on Nov. 5, Xinhua will publish special reports daily, in Chinese and other languages, on issues of public concern, including children's safety, subsistence, development and future, to give comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the subsistence and development of worldwide children.

UNICEF Press release

--> HREA offers an e-learning course: Child Rights Programming. Application deadline is 1 December 2009.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Re: 【AIDS RIGHTS】 International Human Rights Training

Dear Sir , madam

The International Human Rights Training that will be held in Canada
next year is the one we are applying for.

the organisation has nominated Amon Ndhlovu to represent the
organisation in the meeting.

He is the project manager of the organisation

Your
James Moyo
Director
Malawi
On 10/9/09, 常坤 Chang Kun <changkunchina@gmail.com> wrote:
> International Human Rights
> Training<http://cambodiajobs.blogspot.com/2008/09/international-human-rights-training.html>
> The
> International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) is at the heart of the
> Equitas' activities. Since 1980, this annual three-week training session
> brings together approximately 120 participants from over 60 countries. The
> IHRTP provides a unique opportunity for human rights workers to deepen their
> understanding of human rights and of the essential role of human rights
> education in effecting change. As recognized by the United Nations:
> "There is a growing consensus that education in and for human rights is
> essential and can contribute to both the reduction of human rights
> violations and the building of free and peaceful societies. Human rights
> education is also increasingly recognized as an effective strategy to
> prevent human rights abuses." *Goal*
> The goal of the IHRTP is to strengthen the capacity of human rights
> organizations to undertake human rights education efforts (e.g., training,
> awareness campaigns, information dissemination, and advocacy) aimed at
> building a global culture of human rights. To this end, the Program places a
> strong emphasis on the transfer of learning and on follow-up activities.
> Participants attending the Program develop an Individual Plan for putting
> their learning into action as part of the training. Therefore, when
> submitting their application, both organizations and Candidates nominated
> should consider how the transfer of learning might take place within and
> beyond the organization after the Program.
> Objectives
>
> By the end of the IHRTP, participants should be able to:
>
> - use a framework based on internationally accepted human rights
> standards and principles to analyze the issues and situations encountered
> in
> the work of their organizations
> - determine how to incorporate participatory methods and techniques into
> their human rights education work
> - indicate appropriate ways for putting their learning from the IHRTP
> into practice in the work of their organizations
> - identify opportunities for future collaborative and networking
> activities essential for furthering the cause of human rights
> - determine strategies for promoting gender equality in their human
> rights education work
> - employ a basic evaluation process for assessing the results of their
> human rights education work
>
>
> *Selection Process and Bursaries*
>
>
> A Selection Committee will review all applications. In addition to the
> requirements previously listed, consideration will also be given to overall
> gender balance and geographic representation. Given the number of
> applications and limited space available, we are unable to accept many
> worthy Candidates. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
>
> Through the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA),
> *Equitas has funding to award a limited number of bursaries to selected
> Candidates*. Once eligibility has been determined, the Selection Committee
> will award the bursaries to the Candidates who best meet the requirements.
> Due to the limited number of bursaries available, there is no guarantee that
> the selected Candidates will receive funding. Therefore, we strongly urge
> all Candidates to immediately begin seeking funding from other sources.
>
>
> *Your application must include:*
>
> - The completed Application Form (Part A completed by the Director of the
> Candidate's organization; Part B completed by the Candidate)
> - The Memorandum of Agreement duly signed by the Candidate and the
> director of the Candidate's organization
> - Two supporting letters from national and/or international human rights
> organizations (other than the Candidate's) familiar with the Candidate's
> work and/or the work of his or her organization
> - A brochure (and/or mission statement) describing the Candidate's
> organization
>
>
> Please send all documents for applications, preferably by email, to:
> ihrtp-pifdh@equitas.org or by fax to: 1-514-954-0659
>
> - Information about the International Human Rights Training
> Program<http://www.equitas.org/english/programs/pdf2009/IHRTP_Information_Package_2010.pdf>
> <http://www.equitas.org/english/programs/docs/2009_Applicationform.dot>
> - 2010 Application
> Form<http://www.equitas.org/english/programs/pdf2009/Application_Form2010.doc>
> <http://www.equitas.org/english/programs/docs/2009_Applicationform.dot>
> - Memorandum of
> Agreement<http://www.equitas.org/english/programs/pdf2009/Memorandum_Agreement2010.doc>
> <http://www.equitas.org/english/programs/docs/2009_Applicationform.dot>
>
> Moreinfo: http://www.equitas.org/english/programs/IHRTP.php
>
>
> --
> 常坤 Chang Kun
>
> 为艾滋病防治努力一生！
> Devote my life to AIDS prevention and care work！
>
> Office Phone: 010-51917982
> 手机:13810726838 (短信)
> U.S(619) 365-5686
>
> ★北京益仁平中心http://www.yirenping.org
> ★中国艾滋病博物馆/China AIDS Museum： http://www.AIDSmuseum.cn
> 旗下网站：
> ----艾博维客 AIDS Wiki ： http://www.AIDSwiki.cn
> ----艾博聚合（汇聚艾滋病博客）http://www.wanyanhai.org
> ----中国艾滋病网络：http://www.ChinaAIDSgroup.org
> ----中国艾滋病地图/China AIDS Map：http://www.aidsmaps.org
> ----空腹健身运动：http:///www.HungerStrikeforAIDS.org
> ----艾滋人权 AIDS Rights： http://www.AIDSrights.net
> ----常坤：为艾滋病防治努力一生：Http://www.changkun.org
>
> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
> To learn more about the AIDS Rights group, please visit
> www.aidsrights.net
>
> To start sending messages to members of this group, simply
> send email to aidsrights@googlegroups.com
>
> If you do wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
> subscribe by sending an email to aidsrights-subscribe@googlegroups.com
>
> If you do not wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
> unsubscribe by sending an email to
> aidsrights-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
>
> ★AIDS RIGHTS :http://www.aidsrights.net http://www.twitter.com/aidsrights
> ★AIDS WIKI :http://www.aidswiki.cn
> ★http://www.changkun.org
> -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
>
>

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To start sending messages to members of this group, simply
send email to aidsrights@googlegroups.com

If you do wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
subscribe by sending an email to aidsrights-subscribe@googlegroups.com

If you do not wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
unsubscribe by sending an email to
aidsrights-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

★AIDS RIGHTS :http://www.aidsrights.net http://www.twitter.com/aidsrights
★AIDS WIKI :http://www.aidswiki.cn
★http://www.changkun.org

Thursday, November 5, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Please sign petition to the Australian Government

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jim Loughran <jimloughran@frontlinedefenders.org>
Date: Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 7:07 AM
Subject: Petition to the australian Government
To: Chang Kun <changkunchina@gmail.com>

Protect One - Empower A Thousand

Sign Front Line's petition to the Australian Government today.

http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/petitions/australiaguidelines

Dear Friends

Last year Front Line commissioned Irish photographer Mark Condren and a team of journalists from The Sunday Tribune to travel to Honduras, Western Sahara, India, Serbia and Kenya to document the lives of human rights defenders, literally on the frontline.

This produced a series of articles in the Irish and international media and an exhibition of stunning photographs called Defending Life with Life http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/exhibition

In tandem with the exhibition, which is currently touring Ireland and Australia, Front Line is campaigning for the Australian Government to introduce Australian Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders and to make the protection of human rights defenders a priority in Australia's foreign policy.

These guidelines would be based on those already introduced by the EU and Norway and which set out in clear terms the obligations of states to protect human rights defenders at risk. The Guidelines are not another rhetorical statement but set out practical steps that can be taken, including:

organising at least once a year a meeting of human rights defenders and diplomats to discuss topics such as the local human rights situation and the application of the local strategy for implementing the Guidelines on human rights defenders;

coordinating closely and sharing information on human rights defenders, including those at risk;

maintaining suitable contacts with human rights defenders, including receiving them in Missions and visiting their areas of work; consideration could be given to appointing specific liaison officers, where necessary on a burden-sharing basis, for this purpose;

providing, as and where appropriate, visible recognition for human rights defenders and their work, through appropriate use of the media – including the internet and new information and communication technologies – publicity, visits or invitations for such purposes as presenting prizes they have obtained;

where appropriate, visiting human rights defenders in custody or under house arrest and attending their trials as observers.

The Government of Australia has huge influence in the Asia-Pacific region and for Australia to adopt specific guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders would send out a very strong political message of support.

We are asking all of you to sign this petition and to ask as many of your friends and colleagues to do the same.

      PLEASE SIGN FRONT LINE'S PETITION TODAY

      Thank you for your support !

      Jim Loughran
      Head of Communications
      Front Line
      Dublin

Australian Guidelines on human rights defenders

Front Line Petition to Australian Foreign Minister, the Hon Stephen Smith MP, to introduce Australian Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

I urge you and the Australian Government to commit to providing additional practical support, including financial support, for the protection of human rights defenders at risk by adopting guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders as a stated priority in Australian foreign policy.

The Australian Government has played an important international role in the promotion and protection of human rights and has frequently taken action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk. This support recognises the legitimate role of human rights defenders as key agents of social change.

The adoption of a set of formal guidelines would help to codify the various initiatives already taken by the Australian Government, would give them increased status and credibility and facilitate their more effective implementation.

The adoption of such guidelines would in addition confer increased legitimacy on, and recognise the importance of the work being done by human rights defenders.

Sign the petition!

Surname: *

First name: *

address:

Country:

Email: *

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Fwd: AIDS 2010 eUpdate (Edition 1 - November 2009)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: IAS Info <info@aids2010.org>
Date: 2009/11/4
Subject: AIDS 2010 eUpdate (Edition 1 - November 2009)
To: changkunchina@gmail.com

AIDS 2010 Update

Русскоязычную версию этого документа смотрите ниже

(Edition 1 - November 2009)

This electronic update provides information about the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010), which will be held in Vienna, Austria from 18 to 23 July 2010.

In this edition:

AIDS 2010 Conference Organizers

Call for Abstracts

Abstract Mentor Programme

Website and Expanded Online Access

AIDS 2010 Theme: Rights Here, Right Now

Registration

Local Secretariat

Key Dates

Join the AIDS 2010 Mailing List

1. AIDS 2010 CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS

AIDS 2010 is convened by the International AIDS Society (IAS), the world’s leading independent membership association of HIV professionals around the world. IAS houses the international conference secretariat in Geneva and a local conference secretariat in Vienna.

Local and regional partners include:

City of Vienna
Government of Austria
Community Forum Austria, including AIDS Hilfe Wien
Austrian AIDS Society
East European & Central Asian Union of PLWH (ECUO)
European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS)
European Commission
Local Scientific Leadership

International partners for AIDS 2010 include:

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), including its co-sponsors,
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)
Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+)
International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW)
World YWCA
Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC)

Overall planning for the conference rests with the Conference Coordinating Committee (CCC). The CCC is Chaired by Dr. Julio Montaner, IAS President and Director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver, BC, Canada and Local Conference Co-Chair Dr. Brigitte Schmied, President of the Austrian AIDS Society in Vienna.

Three international planning committees -- the Scientific Programme Committee, Community Programme Committee and Leadership and Accountability Programme Committee -- are responsible for developing the programme. The planning committees and CCC include representatives of scientific and civil society leaders from all over the world, including focal points from Austria and EECA. The committees began meeting in May 2009 and will complete the process of building the programme by May 2010.

Lists of the CCC and planning committee members are available on the conference website.

2. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The XVIII International AIDS Conference welcomes the submission of abstracts for original contribution to the field in the following six programme tracks:

Track A:
Basic Science

Track B:
Clinical Sciences

Track C:
Epidemiology and Prevention Sciences

Track D:
Social and Behavioural Sciences

Track E:
Economics, Operations Research, Care and Health Systems

Track F:
Policy, Law, Human Rights and Political Science

Abstract submissions will be scored by an international panel of reviewers through a blind peer-review process and ultimately selected by members of the AIDS 2010 Scientific Programme and Track Committees.

Online submissions will be accepted until 10 February 2010.

Full information on the scope and objectives for each of the tracks is available here.

3. ABSTRACT MENTOR PROGRAMME

The goal of the AIDS 2010 Abstract Mentor Programme is to provide an opportunity for young and/or less experienced abstract submitters to ask questions of more experienced abstract submitters. At AIDS 2008, online mentoring was shown to increase motivation and submission of abstracts by early-career researchers and those from low- and middle-income countries. The conference secretariat will facilitate the programme and match mentors with submitters.

The mentor programme is completely independent of the abstract review and selection process of the conference. It is an opportunity that will strengthen the quality of abstracts submitted, thereby increasing the chances of submitters having an abstract accepted for presentation.

Full information regarding the Abstract Mentor Programme is available here.

4. BILINGUAL WEBSITE AND EXPANDED ONLINE ACCESS

The AIDS 2010 website provides information useful to conference attendees and media covering the event and serves as a resource for a much broader group of people interested in HIV issues both during and after the conference. AIDS 2010’s commitment to reaching out to stakeholders in the neighbouring region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia is reflected in the Conference Coordinating Committee’s decision to offer both English- and Russian-language websites.

Organizers are again partnering with several organizations to make a significant portion of the AIDS 2010 programme available online. The Kaiser Family Foundation will produce webcasts of major sessions for viewing via the conference website and copies of speeches, slide presentations, abstracts, digital posters, session-specific and daily rapporteur reports, as well as workshop handouts and audio recordings will be accessible through the online Programme-at-a-Glance. The conference is also partnering with Clinical Care Options, Inc. and NAM for online scientific analysis and reporting from Vienna.

Visit www.aids2010.org for more information.

5. AIDS 2010 THEME: RIGHTS HERE, RIGHT NOW

Selected by the Conference Coordinating Committee as the AIDS 2010 conference theme, Rights Here, Right Now emphasizes the central importance of protecting and promoting human rights as a prerequisite to a successful response to HIV. The right to dignity and self-determination for key affected populations, to equal access to health care and life-saving prevention and treatment programmes, and the right to interventions based on evidence rather than ideology, are all incorporated in this urgent demand for action.

Rights Here, Right Now emphasizes that concrete human rights measures need to be in place to protect those most vulnerable to and affected by HIV, especially women and girls, people who use drugs, migrants, prisoners, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender persons.

Rights Here, Right Now also emphasizes the location of the conference in Vienna, chosen in part for its proximity to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, a region experiencing one of the fastest growing epidemics that is fuelled primarily by injecting drug use. It also underscores this critical moment in time for the global epidemic – with the 2010 deadline that world leaders set for providing universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support on the immediate horizon. Rights Here, Right Now is a call for leadership, accountability and action.

6. REGISTRATION

All registrations (regular delegate, student/post-doc, youth delegate, accompanying adult and child, media representative) for the XVIII International AIDS Conference must be submitted using the online registration form. As part of the registration process, you will be asked to create a personal profile, which will become your online gateway to all conference-related submissions. Once you enter your contact information in the profile, you will not need to do so again. Delegates of previous IAS or International AIDS Conferences can use previous profile log in information to access their profile.

Registration will open on 1 December 2009. Delegates are encouraged to register by 24 February 2010 to avoid a late surcharge.

7. LOCAL SECRETARIAT

The AIDS 2010 local secretariat is now open and operating in Vienna, Austria. The local secretariat is responsible for organizing and coordinating several key tasks, including the Global Village and Youth Programme, and for supporting local stakeholders and the local community in their participation in AIDS 2010. The Senior Coordinator of the local secretariat is Marijana Grandits. The AIDS 2010 Local Co-Chair is Dr. Brigitte Schmied from the Austrian AIDS Society.

Contact Details:

AIDS 2010 Local Secretariat
Zelinkagasse 4/1st floor
1010 Vienna
Austria
Phone: +43 1 4000 76781

Senior Coordinator: Marijana Grandits
Email: marijana.grandits@aids2010.org

Assistant to Senior Coordinator: Tina Hofstaetter
Email: tina.hofstaetter@aids2010.org

Global Village Coordinator: Irina Baumgartner
Email: irina.baumgartner@aids2010.org

Youth Programme Coordinator: Elisabeth Rohrmoser
Email: elisabeth.rohrmoser@aids2010.org

Logistics Assistant: Sabine Mann
Email: sabine.mann@aids2010.org

8. KEY DATES

We remind you of the following important deadlines:

1 November 2009

- Abstract submissions open

1 December 2009

- Registrations open
- Global Village and Youth Programme submissions open
- Workshops submissions open
- Satellite applications open
- Exhibition space application open
- Accommodation bookings open

8 December 2009

- Scholarship applications open

10 February 2010

- Abstract submissions close
- Global Village and Youth Programme submissions close
- Workshops submissions close
- Scholarship applications close

25 February 2010

- Registrations late surcharge added

31 March 2010

- Satellite applications close

1 April 2010

- Volunteer applications open

20 April 2010

- Late breaker abstract submissions open

6 May 2010

- Registrations last minute surcharge added

20 May 2010

- Late breaker abstract submission close

31 May 2010

- Exhibition space applications close

18-23 July 2010

- Conference

9. JOIN THE AIDS 2010 MAILING LIST

To continue receiving updates from the conference secretariat, visit the www.aids2010.org homepage and sign up for the mailing list. Your email address will only be used for conference-related updates.

Sincerely,

AIDS 2010 Conference Secretariat

XVIII International AIDS Conference Vienna, Austria, 18 - 23 July 2010, convened by the International AIDS Society (IAS) and international, regional and local partners.

ON THE WEBSITE:

Conference Overview
Conference Programme
Abstracts
Scholarships
Exhibitions, Satellites & Affiliated Events
Conference Hubs
Registration
Hotel Accommodation
Transportation Passes
Flights to Vienna
Volunteers
Governance
Virtual Media Center
Travelling to Vienna
Organizing Partners
Sponsors and Supporters
FAQs
Working at AIDS 2010

Conference Profile

www.aids2010.org

Новости Конференции "AIDS 2010"

(Выпуск 1 - Ноябрь 2009)

Данный электронный бюллетень содержит информацию о XVIII Международной конференции по проблемам СПИДа (AIDS 2010), которая будет проходить в Вене (Австрия) с 18 по 23 июля 2010.

В этом выпуске:

Организаторы Конференции

Нужны новые тезисы

Менторская программа по подготовке тезисов

Веб-сайт и расширенный доступ в сети

Тема конференции "AIDS 2010": Права человека - здесь и сейчас

Регистрация

Местный секретариат

Основные даты

Подпишитесь на рассылку конференции "AIDS 2010"

1. ОРГАНИЗАТОРЫ КОНФЕРЕНЦИИ

Конференция AIDS 2010 проводится Международным обществом по СПИДу (IAS), ведущей независимой ассоциацией лиц, профессионально занимающихся проблемами ВИЧ/СПИДа во всем мире. Международный секретариат конференции размещается в Женеве, а местный секретариат конференции – в Вене.

В число местных и региональных партнеров входят ведущие исследователи и общественные деятели, а также следующие организации:

Городской совет Вены
Правительство Австрии
AIDS Hilfe Wien
Восточноевропейское и Центральноазиатское объединение людей, живущих с ВИЧ/СПИДом (ECUO)
Европейское общество клинических исследований по СПИДу (EACS)

В число международных партнеров AIDS 2010 входят следующие организации:

Объединенная программа ООН по ВИЧ/СПИДу (ЮНЭЙДС), включая ее совместных спонсоров,
Всемирная организация здравоохранения (ВОЗ) и Управление ООН по наркотикам и преступности (УНП ООН)
Международный совет организаций, оказывающих услуги людям с ВИЧ (ICASO)
Глобальное сообщество людей, живущих с ВИЧ/СПИДом (GNP+)
Международное сообщество женщин, живущих с ВИЧ и СПИДом (ICW)
Международная молодежная женская христианская организация (YWCA)
Карибская коалиция уязвимых сообществ (CVC)

Общее планирование конференции проводится Координационным комитетом конференции (CCC). Председателем CCC является д-р Хулио Монтанер, президент IAS и директор Центра в Британской Колумбии по совершенствованию методов борьбы с ВИЧ/СПИДом (Ванкувер, Канада). Местным сопредседателем является д-р Бригитта Шмид, президент Австрийского общества по проблемам ВИЧ/СПИДа со штаб-квартирой в Вене.

За разработку самой программы отвечают три международных планировочных комитета: Комитет по научной программе, Комитет по общественной программе и Комитет по разработке программы по лидерству и ответственности. В состав комитетов, занимающихся планированием конференции, а также в состав CCC входят ведущие представители науки и общественности всего мира, включая активистов из фокальных точек Австрии, Восточной Европы и Средней Азии. Рабочие заседания комитетов начались в мае 2009 г. Работа над составлением программы конференции будет закончена к маю 2010 г.

Со списком CCC и членов комитета по планированию можно ознакомиться на веб-сайте конференции.

2. ПОИСК НОВЫХ ТЕЗИСОВ

Администрация XVIII Международной конференции по СПИДу будет рада рассмотреть тезисы оригинальных исследований в одной из шести следующих категорий:

Категория A:
Фундаментальная наука

Категория В:
Клинические науки

Категория С:
Эпидемиология и профилактика

Категория D:
Социальные и поведенческие исследования

Категория Е:
Экономика, операционные исследования и системы здравоохранения

Категория F:
Социальная политика, законодательство, права человека и политология

Международный комитет рецензентов рассмотрит предложенные тезисы; личность аппликанта учитываться не будет, а затем члены комитета по разработке научной программы и тематических сессий конференции "AIDS 2010"выберут некоторые из них для дальнейшего обсуждения.

Прием тезисов онлайн продлится до 10 февраля 2010 года.

Подробная информация о теме и задачах каждой категории доступна по следующей ссылке.

3. МЕНТОРСКАЯ ПРОГРАММА ПО ПОДГОТОВКЕ ТЕЗИСОВ

Менторская программа по подготовке тезисов AIDS 2010 была создана для того, чтобы молодые и менее опытные составители тезисов имели возможность консультироваться с более опытными. Во время конференции AIDS 2008 сетевая менторская программа заметно повысила мотивацию и расширила список тезисов, предлагаемых молодыми учеными и представителями стран с низким и средним уровнем дохода. Секретариат конференции возьмет на себя решение организационных вопросов по данной программе и подберет наставников для всех желающих

Менторская программа проводится независимо и обособлено от процесса рассмотрения и выбора тезисов конференции. Она позволяет повысить качество подаваемых тезисов, что, в свою очередь, повышает шансы каждого тезиса на прохождение отборочной комиссии.

Более подробная информация о менторской программе по подготовке тезисов размещена здесь.

4. ДВУЯЗЫЧНЫЙ ВЕБ-САЙТ И РАСШИРЕННЫЙ ДОСТУП В СЕТИ

Веб-сайт AIDS 2010 содержит информацию, полезную для посетителей конференции, и освещающих мероприятие СМИ, а также является информационным ресурсом для более широкого круга лиц, интересующихся проблемами ВИЧ, как во время проведения конференции, так и после её окончания. Стремление конференции "AIDS 2010" привлечь внимание заинтересованных сторон в соседних регионах (Восточной Европе и Средней Азии) отражено в решении Координационного комитета конференции о разработке англо- и русскоязычного веб-сайтов.

Администрация вновь сотрудничает с рядом внешних организаций, чтобы обеспечить онлайн доступ к значительной части материалов конференции AIDS 2010. Фонд "Kaiser Family Foundation" подготовит веб-трансляции важнейших сессий, которые можно будет посмотреть на сайте конференции, а также копии выступлений, презентаций, тезисов, цифровые афиши, репортажи с заседаний и ежедневные отчеты, раздаточный материал и аудиоматериалы семинаров; все эти источники будут доступны на сайте в разделе «Быстрый взгляд на программу». Конференция также сотрудничает с компаниями "Clinical Care Options, Inc." и "NAM", которые предоставят материалы научного анализа и отчеты из Вены.

Дополнительная информация доступна на сайте www.aids2010.org.

5. ТЕМА КОНФЕРЕНЦИИ "AIDS 2010": ПРАВА ЧЕЛОВЕКА - ЗДЕСЬ И СЕЙЧАС

Выбранная Координационным комитетом конференции тема "AIDS 2010", Права человека - здесь и сейчас подчеркивает, что необходимым условием для успешной борьбы с эпидемией ВИЧ является защита и продвижение прав человека. Этот настойчивый призыв к действию включает право на уважение и самоопределение тех слоев населения, которых в той или иной мере коснулась эпидемия ВИЧ; право на равный доступ к услугам здравоохранения и жизненно-важным программам по профилактике и лечению; и право на медицинское вмешательство, основанное на научных достижениях, а не на идеологии.

Права человека - здесь и сейчас сейчас заявляет о том, что для защиты от ВИЧ наиболее уязвимых групп населения, в особенности женщин и девушек, людей употребляющих наркотики, мигрантов, заключенных, секс-работников, мужчин, имеющих секс с мужчинами и трансгендеров, необходим комплекс конкретных мер по защите прав человека.

Тема конференции «Права человека – здесь и сейчас» также подчеркивает важность места проведения конференции, поскольку Вена была выбрана местом проведения конференции благодаря своей географической близости к Восточной Европе и Средней Азии – регионам с наиболее высокими темпами распространения эпидемии, преимущественно обусловленными употреблением наркотиков внутривенно. Тема конференции также подчеркивает, что приближается важный момент в истории борьбы с мировой эпидемией ВИЧ: конец 2010 года, который ведущие мировые лидеры обозначили в качестве конечного срока для обеспечения всеобщего доступа к профилактике, лечению, уходу и поддержке в связи с ВИЧ. Тема конференции «Права человека - здесь и сейчас» – это призыв к лидерству, ответственности и активным действиям.

6. РЕГИСТРАЦИЯ

Все участники XVIII Международной конференции по СПИДу (делегаты, студенты и аспиранты, делегаты юношества, сопровождающие взрослые и дети, представители СМИ) должны зарегистрироваться, заполнив специальную анкету на сайте конференции. В процессе регистрации вам необходимо создать личный профиль, который станет единым средством доступа ко всем ресурсам, связанным с конференцией. Достаточно один раз указать свою контактную информацию в профиле, и больше этого делать не придется. Делегаты предыдущих конференций IAS и международных конференций по проблемам СПИДа могут воспользоваться своим старыми регистрационными данными для доступа к своему профилю.

Регистрация начнется 1 декабря 2009. Во избежание необходимости оплаты повышенного тарифа за позднюю регистрацию, делегатам рекомендуется зарегистрироваться до 24 февраля 2010 года.

7. МЕСТНЫЙ СЕКРЕТАРИАТ

Местный секретариат конференции "AIDS 2010" открылся и работает в Вене (Австрия). В обязанности местного секретариата входит организация и координирование нескольких ключевых задач, включая программы "Глобальная деревня" и "Молодежная программа", а так же поддержка местных заинтересованных сторон и местного сообщества в сфере их участия в конференции "AIDS 2010". Старшим координатором местного секретариата является Марьяна Грандиц (Marijana Grandits). Местным сопредседателем "AIDS 2010" назначена д-р. Бригитте Шмид (Brigitte Schmied) из Австрийского общества по СПИДу.

Контактная информация:

Местный секретариат "AIDS 2010"
Zelinkagasse 4/1st floor
1010 Vienna
Austria (Австрия)
Телефон: +43 1 4000 76781

Старший координатор: Марьяна Грандиц (Marijana Grandits)
Email: marijana.grandits@aids2010.org

Помощник старшего координатора: Тина Хофстатер (Tina Hofstaetter)
Email: tina.hofstaetter@aids2010.org

Координатора проекта "Глобальная деревня": Ирина Бомгартнер (Irina Baumgartner)
Email: irina.baumgartner@aids2010.org

Координатор "Молодежной программы": Элизабет Рормосер (Elisabeth Rohrmoser)
Email: elisabeth.rohrmoser@aids2010.org

Помощник по логистике: Сабин Манн (Sabine Mann)
Email: sabine.mann@aids2010.org

8. ОСНОВНЫЕ ДАТЫ

Мы хотели бы напомнить вам о следующих важных датах:

1 ноября 2009 г.

- Начало приема тезисов

1 декабря 2009 г.

- Начало регистрации
- Начало приема заявок на участие в программе "Глобальная деревня" и "Молодежной программе"
- Начало приема заявок по темам семинаров
- Начало приема заявок на сателлитные встречи
- Начало приема заявок на выставочные площади
- Начало бронирования мест в отеле

8 декабря 2009 г.

- Начало приема заявок на получение стипендий

10 февраля 2010 г.

- Окончание приема тезисов
- Окончание приема заявок на участие в программе "Глобальная деревня" и "Молодежной программе"
- Окончание приема заявок по темам семинаров
- Окончание приема заявок на получение стипендий

25 февраля 2010 г.

- Введение тарифа за позднюю регистрацию

31 марта 2010 г.

- Окончание приема заявок на сателлитные встречи

1 апреля 2010 г.

- Начало приема заявок от добровольных помощников

20 апреля 2010 г.

- Начало приема "поздних" тезисов

6 мая 2010 г.

- Введение тарифа за регистрацию в последний момент

20 мая 2010 г.

- Окончание приема "поздних" тезисов

31 мая 2010 г.

- Окончание приема заявок на выставочные площади

18-23 июля 2010 г.

- Конференция

9. ПОДПИШИТЕСЬ НА РАССЫЛКУ КОНФЕРЕНЦИИ "AIDS 2010"

Чтобы в дальнейшем получать новости от секретариата конференции, посетите домашнюю страницу сайта www.aids2010.org и подпишитесь на почтовую рассылку. Ваш адрес электронной почты будет использован только для рассылки информации связанной с конференцией.

С уважением,

Секретариат конференции AIDS 2010

XVIII Международная конференция по проблемам СПИДа в Вене (Австрия), 18 - 23 июля 2010, проводится Международным обществом по борьбе со СПИДом (IAS) и его международными, региональными и местными партнерами

ТАКЖЕ НА САЙТЕ:

Обзор конференции
Программа конференции
Аннотации
Стипендии
Выставки, дополнительные сессии и прочие мероприятия
Центры конференции
Регистрация
Проживание в гостинице
Проездные Билеты
Авиабилеты в Вену
Волонтеры
Управление
Виртуальный медиа-центр
Путешествие в Вену
Партнеры-организаторы
Как стать пожертвователем конференции
Вопросы и ответы

Мой профиль участника конференции

www.aids2010.org

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Mr Zahid Hussein of SRF Pakistan, has been elected President of ASAP, effective from 1 December 2009.

Dear All,
I am pleased to inform you all that Mr Zahid Hussein of Sustainable Resource Foundation, Pakistan, has been duly elected as the President of AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific effective from 1 December 2009.

The announcement was made by the outgoing President of ASAP, Mr Myung-Hwan Cho Today via an email sent to all members of ASAP.

I would like to congratulate Zahid Hussain on his election and welcome him to the presidency of ASAP.

Best regards to all,

Aditya Bondyopadhyay

--
Do not print this mail unless really necessary.
Save paper, save trees..!!

If you loose your way while SCUBA diving, the safest direction to head for is UP..!!!

Friday, October 23, 2009

【AIDS RIGHTS】 Talks Marc Koska: 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe

Speakers Marc Koska: Inventor

Marc Koska wants to improve health care in the developing world by re-designing dangerous medical tools -- and offering education to practitioners in under-funded clinics.

Why you should listen to him:

In 1984, Marc Koska read an article that predicted HIV would spread widely through unsafe injections. He writes, "Appalled at the prospect of such an avoidable catastrophe, I decided there and then to try and do something about it." The prediction, sadly, turned out to be true: syringe reuse now accounts for 1.3 million deaths -- more than malaria. In the next years, Koska undertook the study of public health to find out what could be done. He determined that the design of syringes was the critical issue.

Today, Koska's solution to the problem, the K1 syringe -- it locks down after a single injection, preventing reuse -- is in use by millions. But he hasn't stopped there: In 2005, he founded a nonprofit, SafePoint, which aims to educate people in the developing world about the dangers of reusing any instruments that come into contact with blood.

"As a member of Parliament with an interest in HIV and AIDS, to learn of Marc's work with Star Syringe was an inspiration. He will always be one of my heroes!"

Laura Moffatt, Member of Parliament for Crawley

Email to a friend »

Talks Marc Koska: 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe

Email to a friend

Download this Talk

More actions for this Talk

Discuss this Talk

Sort By:

marc koska (+4)
- +4
- ReplyShow
8 hours ago: TEDsters, thanks for your comments on my talk.
Please consider this data: The syringe is cheap compared to the drug. Typically the patient is paying (in the developing world) and insists on the full dose as do the vast majority of decent healthcare workers. My invention (K1) as well as many others are approved by a rigorous process governed by WHO and ISO. We aim to make them sell at the same price as a typical syringe so there is no cost barrier, but regardless 10 syringes are only the cost of one Coke. The public need safe healthcare, and pay happily when they understand the issue and that they might be at risk. 5 cents or HIV? No brainer! But generally they falsely trust their system and accept secondary infections as part of their lot. This is now changing!
Finally TED speakers are urged to be modest so I did not mention in my talk that 1.8 billion K1 syringes have been sold and used to date, and these have prevented millions of deaths.
Marc
- Alexander Holko (+13)
  - +1
  - ReplyShow
  7 hours ago: Im not trying to be insulting here (realy).
  But i was stunned by the talk. The whole talk i felt like something had to be done, and being offerd the solution, im not realy shure if its a valid solution at all.
  1. I would argue that these people don't reuse syringes for the FUN of it. using the same syringe 20 times reduces the cost by factor 20.
  2.This solution seems contingent on being viewed isolated, but concidering resources this seems like a major waste in resources. There are several videos on polution and plastic on ted, and in respect to these ideas, this solution seems a very odd and wastefull way to do it.
  3.As a concept of materials, syringes would lend themselffs to be reused, so the problem seems not specificly the fact that they are reused, but the conditions.
  So why not raise the quality of the syringes and the price, and subsidise effective easy to use autoclavation with the money? You could even enforce the progress by a simmiliar(but nondestr.) "stop" mech. as yours.
- Mike Hopson (0)
  - 0
  - ReplyShow
  5 hours ago: Marc
  Fantastic product, am totally sold on the idea. I met today with your colleagues at Safepoint and I will be working with them to make the LifeSaver Kits a reality.
  Keep up the good work
  Mike
- Michael Gallimore (0)
  - 0
  - ReplyShow
  2 hours ago: Marc,
  Thanks for supplying the data on number of units sold to date. I realize that TED speakers have tight time restrictions, but I also think that talks about public health innovations must include information about distribution and effectiveness, when available, so that viewers gets a sense of how far along the innovation is. Also, such talks should address obvious objections, as in this case (1)Why won't users simply not push the plunger all the way, and (2) Why won't users just replace the broken part of the syringe.
  
  Your talk was inspiring on a number of levels. Please keep us posted on further developments.
  
  - Mike
Gyula Uszkai (0)
- 0
- ReplyShow
4 hours ago: Hi,
I was aware that syringe reuse is a problem, but did not know that they repack and resale them. Taking into consideration that many products come from china because it is cheaper, and the fact that they repack them, I just realized that the concern of my friends of getting some infection while donating blood is very real. I was donating blood gladly because the lack of blood is a major issue here, and I was confident that if I supervise when they open the syringes, I'll be ok. It turns out that nope... I might die.... not a good advertising for blood donation.
Also I would like to say that if the situation is as bad as You presented, and I am sure it is, than your invention is not good. Let me explain two simple scenarios:
1. they don't push the syringe until the breaking point, so they can reuse it
2. they take out the broken inside and reuse the infected outside. Sure, it is more work and less profit cause you got only half a syringe, but I am sure they will reuse it anyway.
Marcos Petri (+1)
- +1
- ReplyShow
5 hours ago: I loved your talk, really! I was not so impressed at first because I thought you were trying to make a new sterilization method. Fool I was! When you showed how it works I couldn't close my mouth with so surprise, hehe.
I was going ask something, but Pece Kocovski just made it gracefully.
Still, you can pull back the syringe if you didn't use all of it? Or if you push you will not be able anymore to pull back?

Other question: In which country are you sending this right now?
I will use China as an example: The recycling seemed to me pretty consistant, on your slide. The replacement on China is viable? Or in all countries?

I hope everyone spread this ideia. Congratulations, seriously! It was so kind of you realized the stupid thing that is to go to a hospital to fix yourself and become more sick 'cause of application of medicine, not the disease itself.

PS: I'm sorry about my confuse English, I'm not so good writing English.
Ragnar Birko (+34)
- +1
- ReplyShow
11 hours ago: Of note, there are many other auto-disable syringes* in the market, some as affordable, some even more efficient but the advantage of the K1 over the other systems is that it can be manufactured using the same machinery for the same cost as existing disposable syringes (provided a free license to use the patent is allowed).

* http://bit.ly/3Ys1mx (1000! grrr...)
This post has been removed by the author.
Ragnar Birko (+34)
- 0
- ReplyShow
11 hours ago: I wholeheartedly agree with the title, but I do not think this method solves the problem; without access to sterile syringes and without education no system is efficient and it is no surprise that the examples he presented highlight this.

However I am certain he is well aware of this since his a nonprofit's (SafePoint) main mission is education on this issue. He is just offering this as one more tool, out of many others, to attempt to counteract unsafe disposal of used syringes.
I followed the links and though the talk is short his nonprofit is doing awesome work and tries to address the problem from every angle possible, education being the main focus.
Morgan Ahoff (0)
- 0
- ReplyShow
12 hours ago: I'm wondering about the transition to this new type of syringe. If syringes are introduced that 'break' after a single use, won't the old ones get coveted and re-used more? Will kids sifting through trash fight over the kind they can get money for? Will the price of reusable ones skyrocket? Will nurses use single-use syringes on people known to have AIDS? Or on people known not to have AIDS? Will they give fewer injections because the syringes can only be used once, and they don't have enough?
This seems like only one facet of a complex problem, and the others need to be addressed as cleverly as this one for the whole system to work better.
michael harris (0)
- 0
- ReplyShow
15 hours ago: most enlightening...I wouldn''t believe it if I hadn't heard it. Great invention and good luck with the next steps to get it into use.
Faisal Khan (+1)
- +1
- ReplyShow
23 hours ago: It does not stop the needle from being reused.

It does not stop the unscrupulous from injecting multiple people with less than the full volume

It seems to be easily defeated by removing the broken plunger bit out through the needle hole or digging it out with a corkscrew type of device and then using another plunger.
- Sabin Muntean (+37)
  - -1
  - ReplyShow
  22 hours ago: Hmmm... there goes my initial happiness.
  Too simple then I guess. :(
- David Ellinger (+9)
  - 0
  - ReplyShow
  22 hours ago: Yah, of course. I'm surprised this vid made it onto the site without some discussion. For example, did they allow questions at the time? I'm sure someone from the audience thought up this problem right away.
  I don't think the 2nd method would be used as much as the first. The first is a snap, and if they're going to reuse syringes, of course they'll be willing to give people less than their full amount.
  - Sabin Muntean (+37)
    
    0
    ReplyShow
    18 hours ago: Well, it's at least good he draw attention to this problem. How it is to be solved remains to be seen though. I can't really think of anything...
- Adam Fagan (+4)
  - 0
  - ReplyShow
  15 hours ago: That seems like a lot more trouble than simply using a new syringe. I guess it depends on what's causing this though. Laziness or cost. Of course he did say these new syringes were inexpensive.
Julien S-R (+7)
- +1
- ReplyShow
19 hours ago: but it only "self destructs" if you push it all the way in... if you just make sure not to do that, it can be reused (with the same substance)

it's a cool idea though.
toby riddell (-1)
- 0
- ReplyShow
20 hours ago: The picture of the recycling operation in China is one of the scariest I have ever seen. Surely our government will not allow the importation of any medical supplies or equipment from China or India? Actually, NOT. So, when you see the Made in India or China notice on the prepackaged generic drug that you are taking, ask yourself if you or anyone can trust the system that produced the product.
Jack Holt (+1)
- +1
- ReplyShow
20 hours ago: But presumably they're choosing to reuse the needles..so why would they purchase this syringe rather than a standard one? Might it be cheaper to encourage proper disinfecting of syringes between use (I know it's not the perfect solution, but perhaps better than nothing?).
Pece Kocovski (+6)
- +6
- ReplyShow
1 day ago: Such a simple little modification! Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Edit: Question: What if the user doesn't use the syringe all the way (i.e. only squirts half way)? Would it then be possible to re use it? Or does it break after one use and it doesn't matter if it went all the way or stopped half way with the contents still present in the syringe?

Furthermore wouldn't a way around this be to use bigger volumes and then just inject multiple individuals with the one injection? I.e. take 50 mils and give 10 mils each to 5 people.

Cheers!
- Job van der Zwan (+13)
  - +3
  - ReplyShow
  22 hours ago: My thoughts exactly: it's a technological attempt to solve a problem which doesn't originate from technology, but from a lack of education. The real problem is the doctors and nurses not realizing the dangers of multiple syringe use.
  
  If that isn't addressed, they'll still try to bypass this limiting technology, thinking it's a scheme of syringe makers to sell more products. Or worse: they might hang on to the old syringes without this technology even longer than they do now!
  
  Still, I'm still in favour of this. It costs just as much as a regular syringe, and it'll make it a lot harder to reuse them.
- Paul Lee (+2)
  - +2
  - ReplyShow
  21 hours ago: I agree completely. Still, I think it's better than, using your example and the one from the Indian hospital, using 2 syringes for 42 shots than 5 with 1. Even if these syringes aren't complete deterrences for reusing syringes, I think that the lives that could be saved by their use are meaningful and precious enough for their implementation.
  
  Maybe I'm just an optimist :D
Sabin Muntean (+37)
- +1
- ReplyShow
23 hours ago: Incredible invention! So simple and yet so useful.

I wasn't even aware of the scale of infections due to syringes, but now that I hear 1,3 million I wonder how come nobody thought of adressing this issue earlier... it's just so simple.

EDIT: To whoever took the time to give me 40 thumbs down in 1 hour - you're pathetic.
- Jean-Daniel Duquette (+4)
  - 0
  - ReplyShow
  21 hours ago: There seems to be a problem with the "thumbs" system. After reading your edit I tried to give you a thumb up and your "plus-minus" number went down!? I clicked again and it went up...
  So I don't know what's happening.
  By the way, I'm not the one who clicked 40 times!
Jason Soll (+50)
- 0
- ReplyShow
23 hours ago: "I thought this was unacceptable, so I decided to do something about it."

This phrase always seems to lead to groundbreaking, new ideas. Find something unacceptable, and do something about it! Brilliant and simple.
Kasia Bauer (0)
- 0
- ReplyShow
1 day ago: This idea is so simple that it just might get popular. I surely hope so. Some of the ways HIV is spreading that Marc showed during the presentation really shocked me: the video with the nurses reusing the same syringe.... and the kids picking up syringes at the back of the hospitals. The reality of the problem just speaks for itself.

I think that Pece's question about injecting bigger volumes might be problem - a good work-around of the safety mechanism.
- j michaels (-172)
  - -11
  - ReplyShow
  23 hours ago: Notice the countries where this filthy practice takes place are not Christian. They are countries where the word of Christ and His Father Our Lord have not reached the ignorant masses who act as nurseries for all the diseases feared by the Christian West.
  
  What about the unpopular notion that there is an evolutionary advantage in Christianity? Christians, despite an unhealthy interest in squandering money on space exploration, are the real winners in the evolutionary race - We have an inherent advantage in that we have been selected by God as his chosen race.
  
  This is not to say the festering slums of India should be consigned to aids, cancer and malaria, merely that we need to more effectively preach the word of God to these pagan societies.
  
  More Chrisitan missionaries are needed if we are to bring civilisation to these people without the aggresive persuader of war. Perhaps President Bush could help here as a global ambassador bringing a pax Christiana to the world.
Mike Halsall (+7)
- 0
- ReplyShow
1 day ago: Great invention, now just need the factories to only make this type of syringe, which is in their interest as they will get increased revenue as a result.
Ibrahim Abderrahman (0)
- 0
- ReplyShow
1 day ago: great...nice invention...
Rajasekar Nonburaj (0)
- 0
- ReplyShow
1 day ago: This is really an amazing one , the K1 syringe will really helps to control HIV through this method.Hope the government will take this seriously and use these type of syringes.
Anour Dafa-Alla (+16)
- +1
- ReplyShow
1 day ago: Simple and brilliant idea...thanks for that.

Showing All 20 Comment Threads

Add a Comment

This comment will be attributed to name. Not name?

About this talk

Reuse of syringes, all too common in under-funded clinics, kills 1.3 million each year. Marc Koska clues us in to this devastating global problem with facts, photos and hidden-camera footage. He shares his solution: a low-cost syringe that can't be used twice.

About Marc Koska

Marc Koska wants to improve health care in the developing world by re-designing dangerous medical tools -- and offering education to practitioners in under-funded clinics. Full bio and more links

What to watch next

TED2007
Dean Kamen previews a new prosthetic arm

05:10 Posted: Aug 2007

Rated:
Jaw-dropping Inspiring Ingeniou...

Related themes

Related tags

We want to share our Talks! Just follow the guidelines outlined under our Creative Commons license.

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To start sending messages to members of this group, simply
send email to aidsrights@googlegroups.com

If you do wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
subscribe by sending an email to aidsrights-subscribe@googlegroups.com

If you do not wish to belong to AIDS Rights , you may
unsubscribe by sending an email to
aidsrights-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

★AIDS RIGHTS :http://www.aidsrights.net http://www.twitter.com/aidsrights
★AIDS WIKI :http://www.aidswiki.cn
★http://www.changkun.org
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Monday, December 28, 2009

Monday, December 7, 2009

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Monday, November 9, 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Australian Guidelines on human rights defenders

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Friday, October 23, 2009

Speakers Marc Koska: Inventor

Why you should listen to him:

Talks Marc Koska: 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe

Download this Talk

More actions for this Talk

Discuss this Talk

marc koska (+4)

Alexander Holko (+13)

Mike Hopson (0)

Michael Gallimore (0)

Gyula Uszkai (0)

Marcos Petri (+1)

Ragnar Birko (+34)

This post has been removed by the author.

Ragnar Birko (+34)

Morgan Ahoff (0)

michael harris (0)

Faisal Khan (+1)

Sabin Muntean (+37)

David Ellinger (+9)

Sabin Muntean (+37)

Adam Fagan (+4)

Julien S-R (+7)

toby riddell (-1)

Jack Holt (+1)

Pece Kocovski (+6)

Job van der Zwan (+13)

Paul Lee (+2)

Sabin Muntean (+37)

Jean-Daniel Duquette (+4)

Jason Soll (+50)

Kasia Bauer (0)

j michaels (-172)

Mike Halsall (+7)

Ibrahim Abderrahman (0)

Rajasekar Nonburaj (0)

Anour Dafa-Alla (+16)

About this talk

About Marc Koska

Interactive Transcript

What to watch next

TED2007 Dean Kamen previews a new prosthetic arm

Other talks from "Tales of Invention"

Subscribe to TED

Related themes

Related tags

Followers

Blog Archive

TED2007
Dean Kamen previews a new prosthetic arm