Sub-regional Training “HIV/AIDS and the world of work” for constituents’ focal points

News | 23 October 2008
ILO held an HIV/AIDS Sub-regional training event in Moscow region on 21-23 October. The training brought together the focal points from 7 countries of the sub-region – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – nominated by the national constituents to coordinate HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in the world of work in their countries. The participants analyzed regional trends of HIV/AIDS epidemic, its impact on the world of work and implications for the tripartite partners of the ILO – governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations. They also discussed the ILO’s strategic approach to HIV/AIDS - achieving universal access through the world of work and the integration of HIV/AIDS at workplace in DWCP and national AIDS programmes.

Eastern Europe and Central Asia – countries with transition economies with similar political and economic backgrounds and challenges for the future. At the same time the region is characterized by a diversity of cultures/religions. HIV epidemics are different – below 1 % in most of the countries and rapidly growing in Russia hitting about 1 % of the population. The estimated number of people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia rose to 1.6 million in 2007. It is estimated that 110 000 people in this region became infected with HIV in 2007, while some 58 000 died of AIDS.

The focus of the training were the role and responsibilities of the tripartite partners in HIV/AIDS counteraction on country level, as well as their cooperation in preventing negative consequences of the epidemic at workplace. The participants learned how to initiate and implement workplace programmes on HIV/AIDS prevention and to coordinate efforts with other social partners.

The event gave an opportunity to share experiences and best practices gained in the countries of the sub-region: Azerbaijan and Russia presented HIV/AIDS projects’ findings and analysis of gaps and challenges. The Kazakhstan delegation provided a review of HIV/AIDS epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan and presented a number of HIV/AIDS prevention projects realized in the republic. The Uzbek representatives shared their experience in the work with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) funding.

The training identified future steps for the focal points for including HIV/AIDS and the world of work issues in the agenda of the national constituents and examined resource mobilization mechanisms at country level, including the GFATM, World Bank and others funding sources.