Later this month UNAIDS will start an assessment of the situation and response analysis in 12 regions of the Russian Federation in regards to HIV/AIDS. The conclusions of the situation analysis and response review will serve as a basis for the National Strategic Plan to strengthen partnerships in order to enhance effective HIV/AIDS prevention in the Russian Federation. The National Strategic Plan will outline vital intermediate steps (catalytic projects) that are needed to improve the situation and ensure that an effective and sustainable response to the problem is produced in the country. Coordination of efforts and cooperation between different government structures, international and non-government organisations will be a significant characteristic of the plan. In Autumn 1999 the results of the study, as well as and the National Strategic Plan, will be introduced to the international donor community. Also, as part of this programme, UNICEF published in Russian in early November two useful documents on juvenile justice. The UNICEF Digest on Juvenile Justice gives an overview of standards and practise as collected by the International Child Development Centre in Florence. The Collection of International Standards on Juvenile Justice is a practical booklet containing all UN official documents on the issue, as well as the text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The latter will be distributed to all youth police officers in the Russian Federation as part of the UNICEF-Ministry of Internal Affairs agreement. Information Centers in Moscow and Chelyabinsk UNAIDS is looking for support to help two non-government HIV/AIDS Information Centers in Moscow and Chelyabinsk which will collect information on the subject from all over the world, and then translate and distribute it in Russia. Finances are needed to train personnel, as well as to purchase electronic equipment, programmes and printing facilities. |
Technical Network in
Social and Behavioural Studies of HIV/AIDS According to the latest data of the Russian AIDS Centre, the number of HIV-positive cases has almost reached 10,000. Apart from Moscow (754 registered HIV-positive cases), Moscow Region (367) and St.Petersburg (207), the most HIV-effected regions are Kaliningrad (2,200), Krasnodar (1,550), Rostov (1,100), Tver (1,015), Nizhniy Novgorod (584) and Saratov (484). The HIV prevention work, especially among high-risk groups (intjecting drug users, commercial sex workers, men having sex with men, and other vulnerable social groups), needs the involvement of professionals trained and experienced in social and behavioural sciences. UNAIDS plans to support development of a Russian network of experts, who will establish expertise in working with vulnerable .populations, and will consequently be able support Social and Behavioural Studies for a national strategic planning exercise. Workshops for journalists Next year UNAIDS will arrange several workshops for journalists with the aim to develop media support for medical, legal, social and ethical efforts undertaken by government bodies and NGOs. UNAIDS officials also hope to convince journalists to write their stories on the infection without blow-up sensationalism or threatening notes. UNAIDS is currently negotiating with popular TV personalities their participation" in HIV/AIDS related activities, those devoted to World HIV/AIDS Day of December 1, in particular. USAIDS also plans to organise seminars on HIV/AIDS for NGOs working with young people and to attract attention to different social and psychological problems which face youngsters in connection with the infection. |
