On the 23-24 February 2009, EPF was invited to speak at the annual meeting of the HIV/AIDS Networks of the Parliamentary Assembly for “la Francophonie” (PAF) hosted by its Malian Section.

 The HIV/AIDS Network of the PAF gathered around 40 European and African Parliamentarians as well as UNAIDS representatives in order to exchange points of view and best practices in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The main themes of this year’s annual conference were ‘affective and sexual education among young girls and boys’ as well as ‘the difficulties related to the shortage of skilled health care and medical personnel and the brain drain challenges’. During these two days meeting Parliamentarians were able to present their countries’ achievements and remaining challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDS and brainstorm about the best ways to overcome difficulties. There were key discussions on HIV/AIDS awareness-raising among young people and the challenges related to sexual education which still remains “tabou” in most of African countries. Sensitive issues included the issue of “men having sex with men” leading to a lively debate on the existing repressive laws condemning homosexuality in numerous African countries, as well as the difficulties related to sex workers’ access to prevention and treatment.

EPF was invited to speak and share its expertise with Parliamentarians members of the APF. Ms Silvia Theodoridis, EPF advocacy officer, presented the work EPF is carrying out in order to engage and mobilise European Parliamentarians in health related-issues and the implementation of the Cairo Plan of Action focusing particularly on women’s health and rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS and Malaria. Highlighting the existing linkages between these issues, as well as the remaining challenges, EPF’s presentation provided strategies for the future emphasising the need to mainstream policies in order to reaching successful results and meeting the MDGs. Finally, Parliamentarians adopted a Resolution highlighting a possible enhanced collaboration between APF and EPF in the future.