UNAIDS: The First 10 Years

UNAIDS The First 10 Years154The Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) isan innovative advocacy initiative to combat AIDS in Africa. The organizationwas founded in July 2002, with the support of UNAIDS and theInternational AIDS Trust. At this meeting, 37 first ladies signed an agreedFramework of Action, and by 2007, some 40 first ladies from across theAfrican continent were part of the organization, whose seven-memberSteering Committee was, at the time of writing, presided over by theFirst Lady of Zambia, Maureen Mwanamasa.The goal of OAFLA is to make a unified contribution to combating the impact and consequencesof AIDS in Africa. Through coordinated advocacy, OAFLA members work to raiseawareness, advocate HIV-prevention initiatives, promote treatment, care and supportprogrammes, reduce stigma and discrimination, and develop partnerships with internationalorganizations and local partners. The organization focuses its attention predominantly onwomen, children, youth and people living with HIV.The Organisation ofAfrican First Ladiesagainst HIV/AIDS(OAFLA) founded inJuly 2002.Since its inception, UNAIDS has supported the organization, providing technical supporttowards the development of the Plan of Action and the advocacy and communicationstrategy, as well as funding for the functioning of Secretariat. At country level, UNAIDSCountry Coordinators and Regional Support Teams aim to provide communication supportand technical assistance as and when required, for example in relation to the continent-widecampaign mentioned earlier.This bond with UNAIDS was reaffirmed through the signing of a Memorandum ofUnderstanding in 2005 on strengthening commitment for enhanced collaboration betweenOAFLA and UNAIDS, an understanding to which UNICEF is also a full partner.OAFLA has proved to be an innovative and effective initiative, as the African first ladies are in aunique position to use their profile and power for continued high-level advocacy and action.Continuing partnershipsIn strengthening its work at country level, UNAIDS has promoted and supported the establishmentof partnership forums led by governments and bringing together the communityand private sectors, as well as international organizations. These forums contribute to coordinatingthe development and implementation of National Strategic Plans on AIDS.“So a CountryRepresentativehas a greaterresponsibility inmanaging conflictand trying toavoid conflictwherever possible.Geneva does notneed to play thediplomatic gamein the same way”.By June 2003, there were 11 partnership forums in Asia and the Pacific, 20 in Africa and 12 inEastern Europe and Central Asia. Civil society, in those countries at least, is playing a largerrole in the way their governments are responding to the epidemic.What do activists expect from UNAIDS and the UN system at country level? Zackie Achmatfrom South Africa’s Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) explained his viewpoint.