AIDES

AIDES was set up 1984, by Daniel Defert and was state approved in 1990. It is the leading HIV/AIDS organisation in France and one of the most important in Europe. It has drop-in centres and premises in over 70 cities in France and has multiple partnerships with organisations abroad. AIDES is committed to respecting the cultural and sexual identity of each individual, their way of life, their ideological beliefs and their therapeutic choices. AIDES is independent of any religious, moral, political or scientific beliefs; it is a place of reflection, non-judgment, confidentiality and anonymity. Whether it is a result of tradition or by habit, many organisations often operate on the principle of providing a service at the risk of turning their users into « clients ». This is far from being an ideal situation when we consider that autonomy needs to be fostered in order to enable people to go forward, to solve the difficulties they face and to mobilize themselves. AIDES does not decide for people nor act in their place, this is one of our main principles. To avoid the «service» pitfall, AIDES makes sure that those who are infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS and their loved ones are at the centre of decision-making processes, projects and their implementation. Our activities are conducted in response to the needs and wishes of those concerned, taking specific local circumstances into account. We aim to provide bespoke servives and not to trot out actions over and over again which could be relevant in one place but not necessarily in another. AIDES enables people to mobilise themselves and to take action, to be active rather than passive “clients”. This kind of mobilization is essential as it makes the demands and claims of HIV positive people more legitimate.