UN Theme Group on AIDS
UN agencies in support to effective HIV response in Kosovo are gathered around Kosovo UN Theme Group (UNTG) on AIDS. The group is currently composed by Heads of UN agencies in Kosovo and it has been established since the end of 2000, initiated by the WHO Office, strongly supported by UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, World Bank and IOM.
Purpose:
Kosovo UNTG on AIDS ensures joint action of the UN agencies in support to an effective Kosovo HIV and AIDS response
Specifically the UN TG:
- Advocates for political commitment and to a multi-sectorial, expanded HIV response
- Advocates and supports national leadership in coordination of the HIV response
- Facilitates partnerships between government and nongovernmental organizations, civil society, private sector
- Advocates and promotes international best practice on HIV/AIDS
- Assists with the mobilization of technical, financial and institutional resources
- Supports implementation of the UN Learning Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Joint UN Team on AIDS
Joint UN Team on AIDS was established in June 2006 and it gathers technical people of the UN agencies in Kosovo working on HIV/AIDS. It provides technical expertise on AIDS to the Kosovo UN Theme Group.
Activities implemented or in stage of implementation through Kosovo UNTG on AIDS:
- Kosovo Youth against AIDS (December 2004)
- Assessment of the drug use and HIV related infections in Kosovo (June 2006)
- Prevention of HIV/AIDS among CSW and their clients (June 2006)
- Strengthening the M&E System of the Kosovo AIDS Program (September 2006)
- Care Coordinator network in Kosovo (December 2007)
- Scaling up HIV response in Kosovo (December 2007-2008)
- Youth and HIV/AIDS in Kosovo - KAPB Study (2007-2008)
Members of the UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations are UNHCR , UNICEF, WFP, UNDP , UNFPA., UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO, WB.
Contact details:
Head of the Kosovo UN Theme Group on AIDS
Ms. Doina Bologa, Head of UNFPA office
bologa@unfpa.org
Tel:+381 38 249 088
Payton Place 14
10000 Pristina
Kosovo
UNAIDS Focal Point for Kosovo
Fatime Arenliu Qosaj, HIV/AIDS Advisor
Office of the UN Development Coordinator
fatime.arenliu-qosaj@undp.org
Tel:+381 38 249 066 ext. 257
Payton Place 14
10000 Pristina
Kosovo
Few Links on HIV/AIDS related issues
www.unaids.org
www.kosaids.org
www.theglobalfund.org
www.cdc.gov
Brief information on HIV/AIDS situation in Kosovo
According to UNAIDS Kosovo is a low HIV prevalence territory. Although HIV prevalence is low, Kosovo has a particular set of elements that may lead to a rapid spread of the epidemic if not addressed in the early stages. These include a large young population (with 57% estimated under the age of 25); high unemployment (over 50%, mostly affecting young people, with significant underemployment); widespread poverty (49% of population is poor and 15% live in extreme poverty; World Bank Kosovo Poverty Assessment 2005); recent and rapid social changes; increase of drug use (up to 0.3% of the total population); a thriving sex industry, connected with human trafficking and organized crime (number of sex workers is estimated at 1500–2000, IOM 2006); a highly stigmatized MSM population; high mobility of Kosovars to and from Europe and Balkan countries with higher prevalence rates; and a large international community (estimated at approximately 30,000 development, government, and military personnel), including many unaccompanied workers.
Brief summary on the ongoing HIV/AIDS related projects
Scaling up HIV response in Kosovo
The project is expected to be achieved with the support of international and local consultants that will lead technical aspect of all activities related with development of the new Kosovo strategy on HIV prevention and being responsible for drafting the strategic document with all its components. For more information on this project click here.
Youth and HIV/AIDS in Kosovo
The Joint UN Team on AIDS, having UNDP as one of the members, will select a professional organisation for implementation of the KAPB Study that will include 1300 young Kosovars of different ethnicities. For more information on this project click here.
Advancement of UN support to Kosovo HIV response
To establish basis for an Institutional Framework for Joint UN Team on AIDS and for development and approval of the Joint UN Programme of Support 2008 – 2010, the Kosovo UN Joint Team on AIDS will organize a series of activities that will culminate with a a three day workshop/retreat with participation of the members of the UN Joint Team on AIDS and UN Theme Group on AIDS (consisted from Resident Coordinator and Heads of the UN Agencies). For more information on this project click here.