About

the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS

  • For over two decades Indigenous peoples and leaders around the world have worked together to form the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS.
  • Since the first International Indigenous AIDS Conference held in New Zealand in 1991, IIWGHA has grown to regularly host Indigenous Satellite conferences at the biennial International AIDS Conference, and is currently striving to become a separate NGO by 2015.
  • First international Indigenous group of its kind, IIWGHA exists to build a unified voice for Indigenous peoples in collective action against HIV and AIDS by creating partnerships with governments, Indigenous leaders, research bodies, and AIDS organizations.
  • Committed to increasing knowledge and addressing the stigma of HIV and AIDS within Indigenous communities and supporting Indigenous-directed research and awareness initiatives.
  • Supports the Greater Involvement of People living with HIV principle which empowers people living with HIV and AIDS to take a leading role in the work that most affects them, acknowledging the valuable contribution they make in advancing the HIV and AIDS movement.
  • Founded on the key principles developed and adopted by Indigenous Peoples throughout the world in the Toronto Charter – Indigenous Peoples’ Action Plan on HIV/AIDS, which provide support in HIV and AIDS planning, servicing, and programming.
  • To See and Be Seen: theme of the Indigenous pre-conference IIWGHA hosted in Washington, D.C. for the 2012 International AIDS Conference; aim to publicize global issue of Indigenous peoples affected by HIV and AIDS.
  • Dedicated to creating awareness of Indigenous issues in facing HIV and AIDS and “Indigenizing” mainstream AIDS organizations.
  • Increased epidemiological data with a focus on Indigenous ethnicity will help strengthen IIWGHA’s claim that HIV and AIDS disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples and is necessary to gain appropriate funding and NGO status.
  • Provides Indigenous leaders an outlet for sharing, exchanging, and gaining experiences and knowledge on HIV and AIDS to promote hope and change within their own communities.