Toronto, August 14 - The International Community of Women living with HIV (ICW) and the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) are proud to announce an important new step forward in their joint advocacy work for people living with HIV.

On Monday August 14 at AIDS 2006 in Toronto, ICW and GNP+ - the two key partners of the movement of people living with HIV - have signed a Memorandum of Understanding about their future close collaboration. This is a highly significant event as this declaration will enable the movement of people living with HIV to work more effectively towards achieving universal access to treatment, care, prevention and support.

'GNP+ and ICW have realized that increased collaboration between the two networks will raise its own effectiveness', says Kevin Moody (International Coordinator of GNP+). 'We will build on each other's expertise and recognize the mutual diversity, while each network retains its own autonomy and continue its successful activities', says Fiona Pettitt (Acting International Network Manager of ICW).

The document was signed by Deloris Dockrey, Chair of GNP+, and MariaJos? Vazquez, Chair of the International Steering Committee of ICW.

For more information, media can contact Martin Stolk (GNP+ Communications Coordinator) by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Emma Bell (ICW Communications and Research officer) by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .