I hope the electricity works so I can connect. I want to participate. Thanks you for this system.

I have some observation I believe should be shared with the community. Specifically how representative IS the actual NGO representation ? There are 40 NGO's right ? But if I am not mistaken none from India or China, two countries which have the largest epidermic in our region ? Why ?

I also hear from teh ground that the report was writen by NGO reps based upon and structured to make UNAIDS look good ? Again this is NOT acceptable if true... we want transparency and the truth - period. Nothing more - nothing less...

GIPA - well as long as there are people who are willing to be open and public and give a face to the ailment GIPA will slolwy but surely progress, be it most times at a high risk of having one's whole family, livelihood and other forms of support disrupted ?

I am quite fed-up now of conforming to donor criteria while we have very ill people dying in our respective wards and hospices. ENOUGH !

Peace and Love - Aruna in Toronto

For years, there have been many many words written or spoke about GIPA and meaningful involvement. But real actions have been few and not always meaningful. I see Celina D'Costa Menezes, a PLHIV from India, is organizing this imaxi cooperative to get more involvement from the broad community. The empowered using their empowerment to get others empowered. Like a healthy contagious disease, it can spread. I like that, and I also will spread the word. It is good to practice what we preach. UNAIDS for All is GIPA in action, and I want to be involved. I'm coming (online) to Geneva from Hong Kong. I don't even have to look everywhere for sponsors or waste my time and money running for visas. And thats very meaningful to me.

I guess they could call me a user of HIV services and programmes. I want t learn and know more and be part of the decisions that are made concerning me. So can I make reservation for a friend and me for the UNIADS for All event? For the sessions on women gender stigma equality. Thank you Priya.Soni77 - gmail.com

This is truly a new and refreshing improvement to the usual suspects going to the usual high level closed meetings, and letting bad business as usual continue far way in the communities. A system where those who can't fly around the world can still participate in shaping the world's health policies. and all you need to enter is cell phone or any computer access. Excellent, but it seems a shame I do not see any other languages other than the usual english. UNAIDS for All is worthy of reaching out world wide. It's unusual. // s.k

This is an interesting step forward for transparency.It's encouraging to see UN agency opening itself up for observers from around the world. Reserve me a seat at the table please.

I'd like to reserve a seat at the UNAIDS meeting. I am a positive widowed mother of two from Mumbai, delicately balanced treatment with homelife in a society which shuns me. Effective HIV programmes is important to me and to my girls.
Seeing the Board in action would be interesting. Can I make a reservation to participate online or is it open without formalities? Thank you for this opportunity. anya.menon.2@gmail.com

Invite someone to become involved in the policy development of issues that concern them serves to empower. If your opinion is sought you feel valued, and you begin to think you could have an impact on things that affect you. You begin to feel that you are seen as important. People see you as such. Stigma and discrimination goes down as involvement goes up. A positive circle. This applies to everything, not just HIV/AIDS related stigma. So simple but so resisted by those who decide who gets the invitations.

UNAIDS was the first UN programme to have civil society formally represented on its governing body. The NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Program Coordination Board (PCB) has a triple role:
• Participating objectively and independently in the workings and decision-making of the PCB;
• Undertaking various forms of proactive and informed advocacy within the structures and processes of the PCB;
• Enhancing the transparency and accountability of relevant PCB decision-making and policy-setting, helping to meet requirements for upwards accountability (towards the PCB and other delegations) and downwards accountability (towards the people, communities and constituencies affected by HIV).
http://unaidspcbngo.org/

Established in 1994 by a resolution of the UN Economic and Social Council and launched in January 1996, UNAIDS is guided by a Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) with representatives of 22 governments from all geographic regions, the UNAIDS Cosponsors, and five representatives of nongovernmental organizations, including associations of people living with HIV.

The Programme Coordinating Board has the following broad functions:

* To establish broad policies and priorities for the Joint Programme, taking into account the provisions of General Assembly resolution 47/199;
* To review and decide upon the planning and execution of the Joint Programme. For this purpose it is kept informed of all aspects of the development of the Joint Programme and considers reports and recommendations submitted to it by the Executive Director, and the Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO)
* To review and approve the plan of action and budget for each financial period, prepared by the Executive Director and reviewed by the CCO;
* To review proposals of the Executive Director and approve arrangements for the financing of the Joint Programme;
* To review longer term plans of action and their financial implications;
* To review audited financial statements submitted by the Joint Programme;
* To make recommendations to the Cosponsoring Organizations regarding their activities in support of the Joint Programme, including those of mainstreaming;
* To review periodic reports that evaluate the progress of the Joint Programme towards the achievement of its goals.

http://www.unaids.org/en/AboutUNAIDS/Governance/default.asp