Universal Access 2010 Review

This project is supporting community sector advocates to:

• assess their involvement in the universal access processes;
• review data and analysis of the AIDS epidemic and related needs (especially of key populations, prevention, human rights, and gender equality);
• identify the gaps in the targets set and in the associated achievements;
• advocate for targets and approaches that are comprehensive and that reflect the reality of their country's epidemic, and for transparent and inclusive periodic monitoring and reporting process in the future, and;
• monitor and document progress in achieving those targets.

The methodology is based around participatory action research (PAR), whereby members of the community participate meaningfully in the data collection process and the interpretation, dissemination, and use of research results. The ICASCO project methodology tool may be downloaded by anyone wishing to initiate a community-led review; click here [PDF].

Partners at the country level collected and analysed data during the last quarter of 2010 based on a set of common guidelines and a questionnaire. Country partners and community stakeholders will then share the results and validate findings and recommendations and agree on an advocacy plan. ICASO Regional Secretariats and partners will collate and analyse these country reports and complement the findings and recommendations with interviews with key informants, advocates, and leaders to present a "snapshot" of Universal Access in their respective regions. [Anyone who has initiated a review is invited to share documented results with ICASO to publicise and incorporate into regional and global accountability reports; see the contact details, below]. ICASO will compile all the reports and will develop a global report to be launched at the 2011 UN High-Level Meeting to review progress on universal access. It is anticipated that the report will provide a frank analysis of the challenges and barriers as well as lessons learned in achieving universal access and will propose a set of recommendations for universal access to be achieved by 2015.

HIV/AIDS.

On June 2 2006 Member States at United Nations General Assembly adopted a Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS where countries committed, among other things, to set targets by end of 2006 to scale up the response toward the goal of reaching universal access by 2010.