Networking Of Aids Services Organizations And Community example essay topic

Aids is a very serious matter around the world. It is a deadly disease that kills millions world wide every year. The International Council of Aids Service Organization, is an organization trying to help this massive world wide problem by getting people involved. The ICASO has many branches world wide, but itfs central location, is actually here in, Toronto.

ICASO works to strengthen the community-based response to HIV / AIDS, by connecting and representing non-governmental organizations in all the regions of the world. The ICASO mission is to: " mobilize communities and their organizations to participate in the response to HIV / AIDS"; articulate and advocate the needs and concerns of communities and their organizations"; ensure that community-based organizations, particularly those with fewer resources and within affected communities, are strengthened in their to prevent HIV infection, and to provide treatment, care and support for people living with and affected by HIV / AIDS"; promote the greater involvement of people living with, and affected by HIV / AIDS in all aspects of prevention, treatment, care and support, and research"; promote human rights in the development and implementation of policies and programs responding to all aspects of HIV / AID. The ICASO was envisioned in 1991 in Paris as a mean to organize and facilitate the networking of AIDS services organizations, and community based organizations around the world. It has now developed into one of the most influential voices of the community-based response to the epidemic. When the ICASO was founded in 1991, they thought by 2001 that they would have accomplished the following: 1. the epidemic would be under control and the infrastructures would be well in place to connect like-minded community workers and activists. 2.

Governments around the world would place HIV / AIDS at the top of their domestic and foreign agendas if the pace of infection and mortality stayed constant, or worse, increased. 3. ICASOfs voices would have some positive effect. Sadly, only one of these three goals were completed. The ICASOfs voice has been heard and slowly action is being taken to help this world wide problem.

The ICASO were at the forefront of the negotiations and proceedings of the first United Nations General Assembly on HIV / AIDS, which was held from June 25th to the 27th. The ICASO was also invited to be one of the architects of the new Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The ICASO retained their role as a co-organizer of the regional and international conferences, and began to implement their give-Year Program, a grey component of which is engaging new and larger funding commitments to the community-based response. h The ICASO work is far from over. They embark on their second decade with a very clear mandate: to strengthen the community voice in policy and programming discussions at all levels. With all of our help lets hope that the second decade of the ICASO is itfs last.