Global Civil Society Forum on Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Prevention

The Open Society Public Health Program brought together 30 civil society representatives from around the world on October 14-15, 2009, to discuss issues raised by proposals to scale up antiretroviral treatment (ART) in order to prevent the transmission of HIV.

The "ART for prevention" model first published in The Lancet in November 2008 has been the subject of much debate among activists. In particular, the article provided a trigger for people to express deeply held concerns, including concerns about the lack of attention to human rights in national responses to HIV; the slow pace of efforts to reach universal access to HIV treatment, care, and support; and how and under what conditions ART should be promoted for prevention purposes.

A full meeting report is available for download. The report was drafted by meeting participants from the following organizations:

• AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa
• AIDS Law Project, South Africa
• European AIDS Treatment Group
• Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
• Human Rights Watch
• International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS
• International Council of AIDS Service Organizations
• International Treatment Preparedness Coalition
• Open Society Foundations
• Treatment Action Campaign, South Africa