2nd Open Europe2nd Open EuropeAIDS Conference 2004AIDS Conference 2004in Vilnius, Lithuaniain Vilnius, Lithuania

Iveta BalodeLatvian Red Crocs Youth leader

4,870,0004,870,000

““The only way to cope with the The only way to cope with the problem is to take the matter problem is to take the matter seriously and to fight against seriously and to fight against the disease withthe disease with cooperation of cooperation of all possible instances and in all all possible instances and in all the areas of lifethe areas of life””

One of the most frequently used sentences One of the most frequently used sentences in the conferencein the conference

• HIV pandemic has inflicted its worst HIV pandemic has inflicted its worst damage on marginalized populationsdamage on marginalized populations - - injectiinjectingng drug users, sex workers, drug users, sex workers, refugees, asylum seekers, prisoners, and refugees, asylum seekers, prisoners, and men having sex with men.men having sex with men.

• In Central and Eastern Europe and the In Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the vast majority of former Soviet Union, the vast majority of HIV-positive people are injectiHIV-positive people are injectingng drug drug users. users.

Some believe that the state does not Some believe that the state does not have an obligation to protect those have an obligation to protect those who break the law.who break the law.

Others believe this to be a dangerous Others believe this to be a dangerous argument both from a human rights argument both from a human rights and public health standpoint.and public health standpoint.

Fight against HIV/AIDS starts with Fight against HIV/AIDS starts with human beingshuman beings..

The fate of many will depend less on The fate of many will depend less on science or on decision makers than science or on decision makers than on the ability of large numbers of on the ability of large numbers of human beings to human beings to change their change their behavior and attitudesbehavior and attitudes in the face of in the face of PLWHA.PLWHA.

Summing the conclusions of the Summing the conclusions of the conference,conference,

National Red Cross and Red Crescent National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have become valued members Societies have become valued members of the big HIV/AIDS networkof the big HIV/AIDS network

We give a vast number of human beings We give a vast number of human beings the knowledge and tools the knowledge and tools to personalizeto personalize the issue.the issue.

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