In the run-up to the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS, which will be held from June 8 to 10 in New York, below are some key documents and information on what GNP+ has been doing in preparations for this important event, as well as some ideas on how PLHIV can advocate with their governments.

Just weeks before the High Level Meeting, the draft of the United Nations Outcome Declaration has been released. Governments are now entering negotiations to agree on the language and commitments of the Outcome Declaration.

What GNP+ is doing:

• GNP+ has created and disseminated key advocacy messages to partners, governments and networks of people living with HIV worldwide;
• GNP+ has sent copies of these messages to every country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, who play a key role in negotiating on behalf of their governments;
• GNP+ has provided comments to the ‘zero draft’ of the eventual ‘Outcome Declaration’, suggesting improvements around the key issues, needs and priorities of people living with HIV through the civil society platform, convened by ICASO;
• Through the GNP+ Programme on Young People Living with HIV – Y+ Programme – advocacy messages by and for YPLHIV have been developed.
• GNP+ will be assessing the level of participation of PLHIV within the different government delegations, per the recommendations of the UN General Assembly to include networks of people living with HIV in their national delegations and the High Level Meeting.

What you can do:

• Ensure that the Civil Society Declaration and the advocacy messages from GNP+ and the Y+ programme are shared with your government and the key stakeholders engaged in negotiating the contents of the Declaration on behalf of your country/government;
• Monitor the support offered by government for civil society participation in this process;
• Lobby for the meaningful inclusion and involvement of PLHIV and key affected groups in government delegations.

Key downloads:

• Roadmap to the UN High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS provides details pertaining to the key activities leading up to the UNGASS High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS and highlights the key points of entry and engagement for civil society broadly and PLHIV specifically.
• Human Rights and Accountability: Revitalizing the HIV response, 2011 and beyond. Messages to governments from the Global Network of People Living with HIV.
• I am one of 7 million young people living with HIV. Here is what I need you to understand: Key advocacy messages developed by and for young people living with HIV through the Y+ programme.
• Civil Society Declaration for the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS

Useful Links:

• Civil Society Coordination for the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment: ICASO coordinates the creation of this Civil Society declaration.
• 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS
• World AIDS Campaign