Nhan Dan Online -  The Vietnam Women’s Union, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), are organising a national workshop entitled “Turning the Tide: Promotion of the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV (GIPA) and Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination” from 27 to 28 August 2007 in Hanoi.

Following the global thinking and trend that the personal experiences of people living with HIV can and should be utilized to shape responses to the HIV epidemic, Vietnam has seen a considerable increase in the number of people living with HIV who are actively involved in the prevention, care and treatment activities in the last few years.

“Addressing the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV must be a priority for us all, and strong leadership is needed to achieve that,” said Ms Ha Thi Khiet, President of the Vietnam Women’s Union (key implementing agency of the GIPA project) and Chairwoman of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women.

“Empowering and involving people living with HIV is one of the crucial steps in responding to stigma and discrimination. There is so much that can be accomplished if we combine efforts and work together - I hope this workshop will assist in this process,” she added.

The national workshop in Hanoi is an illustration of the encouraging developments in Vietnam. It will bring together people from the region and Vietnam to exchange positive experiences and discuss the remaining challenges from the GIPA project and work on strategies to implement GIPA in Vietnam in order to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV face.

"People living with HIV have been making vital contributions to HIV prevention, treatment and care activities in Vietnam, however we have not received sufficient recognition or support for this work. We would like to set up a mechanism which is owned and managed by people living with HIV themselves, enabling us to share a common voice in Vietnam and be able to legally access resources from the national government and the international community. This workshop and the support from the Women's Union is an important step forwards in helping us achieve these goals", said Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy Ngan, Deputy head of the White Dove self-help group and Chair of the GIPA sub-group.

The workshop has been organised by the GIPA Project, which was launched in early 2006 by the Vietnam Women’s Union in four provinces, with support from UNV and UNAIDS.

“There is still a lot of work to be done to secure a place at the table for people living with HIV, and to tailor responses that really work. In addition to the active participation by groups of people living with HIV we also need to consider the possibilities for creating more supportive social and legal conditions for people living with HIV and see how best we can ensure that the involvement of people living with HIV is a reality at all levels in the country,” said Mr. Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Country Director. 

During the workshop Madam Ha Thi Khiet and other high-level dignitaries will pay a visit to Dong Da Hospital in Hanoi to talk to people living with HIV, who are providing referral, counselling services, as well as care and support for others living with HIV.