All-party Parliamentary Group on AIDS

Background

All party parliamentary groups are officially-recognised and long-standing features of the Westminster Parliament. Like select committees, they must have membership from all the main political parties and are able to use parliamentary facilities. They enable MPs and Peers to meet and co-ordinate parliamentary activities on specialised subjects. Unlike select committees, they are voluntary and receive no parliamentary funding.

The AIDS group The AIDS group was founded in 1986 with the stated objectives of raising awareness in Parliament, encouraging balanced policies and acting as a bridge with the HIV sector. Its main activities include having regular meetings in Parliament with guest speakers from the HIV sector in the UK and abroad. Co-ordinated written and oral parliamentary questions and debates. Public and private meetings with ministers and officials. Briefings for members on the HIV/AIDS implications of legislation. Information for HIV/AIDS organisations on parliamentary business and joint meetings with other all-party groups. The group employs a full-time member of staff as its policy adviser and co-ordinator.

Benefits of the group

• a number of well-informed advocates for HIV/AIDS within Parliament the maintenance of cross-party consensus.
• a forum for the voices of people with HIV, affected communities and services to be heard in Parliament and government.
• a direct and influential route to government ministers and officials.
• the ability to help set the political agenda.
• former ministers contribute to the group and former officers may go on to ministerial careers.
• members exchange views and information with international colleagues, including through inter-parliamentary associations.

Policy Influences

The involvement of the all party parliamentary group on AIDS can be traced in most legislation and government policy since 1986. Examples of measures in which the group has been influential include the establishment of the "liberal consensus" approach to HIV/AIDS - public education, needle exchange, condom distribution and voluntary testing rather than coercive public health measures. The introduction of anonymous prevalence surveys and helping to support the AIDS Control Act 1987, including HIV infection in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Policy is also used to actively persuade life insurance companies to remove questions about HIV testing. The policy also influenced the holding of parliamentary hearings in 1998 to help set the agenda for a national HIV/AIDS strategy. Expanding focus towards HIV/AIDS as an international development responsibility, and reinforcing a human rights focus on HIV/AIDS. The all-party parliamentary group on AIDS has been a key part of the UK's response to HIV/AIDS. Through its parliamentary activities, it has prompted, influenced and scrutinised the policies of successive governments. It has ensured that HIV/AIDS has not become a party political issue and has remained a political priority, both as a national threat and as an international responsibility. It is offered as a model which has been adapted by other national parliaments to keep HIV/AIDS high on the national agenda and to ensure a balanced and effective response. You can visit their Website on www.appg-aids.org.uk