The politics of civil society in confronting HIV/AIDS |
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| Authors: | BILL RAU |
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| Institution: | Independent consultant with more than twelve years of experience in the design and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes. He has worked on identifying the linkages between the impact of HIV/AIDS on development and using a development perspective to plan mitigation activities. He has carried out and published research on linkages between HIV/AIDS and child labour for the International Labor Organization, on NGO and local community responses to HIV/AIDS for the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and on the policy responses of governments and businesses. He has provided technical assistance to numerous countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. |
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| Abstract: | Civil society organizations have been at the forefront of the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, the contributions and the models of action they offer have remained marginalized by most governments and international organizations. This article looks at the initiatives of civil society actors. It discusses some of the political reasons and rationale behind the less than enthusiastic support for these initiatives from governments and large aid agencies. Two reasons are suggested: many politicians fear providing support and credibility to civil society organizations that might then build upon their success to question and challenge development failures; and the threat perceived by national and international bureaucrats to their own assumed expertise and solutions to the pandemic. In some cases, civil society organizations have been co-opted to fill gaps that governments themselves can not or will not address. However, even here, governments assume the credit for 'successes' in controlling HIV/AIDS. |
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