The first global consultation led by people living with HIV to address their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights took place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 5-7 December 2007. The international group of 65 HIV-positive women, men, young people, and transgender people articulated a vision statement to guide advocacy, policy, legal, programmatic and funding priorities that respect SRH and rights, and that underscores the need for health systems to do the same.

Opening the consultation, Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS, stated  “The discussion of sexual and reproductive health rights is often not a priority for development work yet serious violations of the sexual and reproductive health rights of people living with HIV mean that it is a subject that deserves serious input and discussion.”

“Under the GIPA principle – greater involvement of people living with HIV – HIV policy and program development must include our voices. Our vision statement describes what we mean by sexual and reproductive health and rights and how we think people living with HIV should be further involved in developing policies and programmes and taking responsibility for our own bodies and lives,” said Deloris Dockrey, chair of GNP+.

The landmark consultation, organized by the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW) and YoungPositives with support from EngenderHealth, IPPF, UNAIDS, UNFPA and WHO, will be followed by LIVING 2008: The Positive Leadership Summit for people living with HIV, on 31 July and 1 August in Mexico City.

You can find the report of the Global Consultation in the GNP+ library.