Advocacy in Cambodia: Increasing Democratic ... - Pact Cambodia

HIV/AIDS
NGO advocacy concerns include:
Case Studies
Dozens of NGOs in Cambodia are
currently implementing HIV/AIDS
programs. This case study presents a brief
look at networking and policy oriented
activities and is not intended to be allinclusive.
HIV/AIDS in Cambodia
The 2001 NGO Statement to the
Consultative Group Meeting section on
HIV/AIDS indicated that in 2000,
approximately 169,000 people (2.8% of
the population aged 25-49 years) were
living with HIV. In 2000 alone, there was
an estimated 49,228 new infections,
transmitted mainly through heterosexual
activity. NGO surveys indicate that between 30%
and 50% of people in villages has a relative who is
HIV+ or whom has died of AIDS. Many HIV+
people are unaware of their HIV status due to the
paucity of testing centers and the fear of
discrimination that results from a positive
diagnosis. In addition to the loss of human life,
patient care creates a heavy burden on families
that lose much-needed income when people are
unable to work, and which often go into debt to
cover medical expenses.
NGOs are concerned about the validity of
national HIV statistics, as the government is the
only sentinel (testing) organization. There are also
doubts as to the reliability of the statistics,
particularly regarding condom use, and the degree
to which statistics are placed in the public domain.
HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee
(HACC)
Established in 1993, HACC is a network of
55 organizations that have HIV/AIDS components
to their programs. The network coordinates with
the National Aids Authority and the Ministry of
Health to organize special event days. In 1999,
HACC employed its first staff to take over
coordination and communication between
members, as the committee members were
occupied with their own professional
responsibilities. World Vision International (WVI)
provided funds for an office and for administrative
• Patients’ access to treatment,
including anti-retroviral
treatment;
• Patient care, as the government
does not have a law or policy
on the treatment of HIV/AIDS
patients;
• Blood testing; and
• Participation of all government
ministries in the HIV awareness
raising effort.
costs. One of HACC’s roles is responding to
inquiries from other NGOs regarding counseling,
home care, and people living with AIDS.
HACC advocacy focuses mainly on awareness
raising through the production of television spots
and the celebration of public events such as
Candlelight Day (day of remembrance for AIDS
victims), World AIDS Day, and the Water Festival.
The purpose of these events is to raise awareness
about HIV/AIDS both within the public and
within the government, in order to lobby the
government to take more action in the fight
against AIDS. The Water Festival is an especially
important event because people come from all
over the country to spend four to five days in the
capital. Occasionally HACC organizes public
forums which are attended by government
officials, NGOs, and members of the public.
In 1997-98, HACC formed three working
groups that continue to meet to this day. The first
is the counseling/homecare/support working
group. A second working group addresses training
issues and the third one addresses IEC and media
issues. The main purpose of each group is sharing
lessons learned. HACC maintains a series of
leaflets, booklets, and documents on HIV that are
available to the public, and publishes two
directories, one with general information about
members and a second containing information
about HIV-related services around the country.
HACC has also organized two training
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