USOP Serbia

USOP (UNION OF SERBIAN PLHIV) is a union of organizations dealing with protection of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) in Serbia founded on December 11th 2009, with support of Handicap International, United Nations Theme Group on HIV and AIDS in Serbia and Youth of JAZAS Belgrade. PLHIV organizations in Serbia have shown a clear wish for strengthening their positions in response to HIV epide

mic, and increasing their power by being included in creation of public policies and events concerned with protection of PLHIV and HIV prevention in Serbia. All the USOP efforts have been directed at advocating for better life quality of PLHIV firstly in Serbia, and at the international level as well. Members of USOP are seven PLHIV organizations from Serbia: „Više od pomoći“ Belgrade („Aid +“, www.aidplusserbia.org), „Žena plus“ Belgrade („Woman Plus“, www.zenaplus.org), „AS centar“ Belgrade (www.aids-support.com), „Sunce“ Niš („Sun“, www.nvosunce.org), „Crvena linija“ Novi Sad („Red line“ www.crvenalinija.org), „Stav +“ Subotica („Attitude +“, www.stavplus.org) and „Nova +“ Pančevo („New +“, www.novaplus.webs.com). Apart from these seven regular members, USOP also has associate members: The Charitable Foundation of the Serbian Orthodox Church „Philanthropy“, Intenational Aid Network – IAN, Association for the Fight against AIDS "Jazas", Youth of JAZAS Novi Sad, Association „Prevent“ Novi Sad, Association „Putokaz“ Niš, Youth of JAZAS Niš and Association „Duga“ Šabac. The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, United Nations Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, Ministry of Health Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Justice Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Republic of Serbia have also given their support to the Union in various projects. USOP also works in cooperation with other relevant state institutions such as National Assembly, Serbian Government, Institute of Public Health of Serbia, Republican AIDS Commission, etc. Guiding principle of USOP - Every person who lives with HIV/AIDS must have equal rights as any other person, regardless of his/her sexual orientation and way of infecting, religious or any other kind of belonging; with emphasis on treatment, care and support, and every individual must, through active education, gain knowledge of HIV transmission i.e. Mission of USOP - USOP is gathering PLHIV associations in creating and implementing policies, laws, strategies and development program with the purpose to improve the quality of PLHIV life and their involvement in society without stigma and discrimination. USOP is constantly working on capacity development in order to enable an increase of PLHIV participation in state commissions and institutions dealing with HIV/AIDS, to give an adequate civil response to the problem of HIV in Serbia and a national response to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Vision - USOP wants Serbia to be a quiet and safe place for a life of dignity and quality for people living with HIV/AIDS. USOP Structure - Managing Board and Executive Officer manage the Union, its work is monitored by the Supervisory Board, and the highest body is USOP Assembly. USOP has its Statute and strategic plan of development. Apart from regular and associated members, USOP also has honorary members i.e. distinguished individuals and experts in the field thus ensuring higher involvement of all people who want to help strengthening of PLHIV organizations and fight against HIV/AIDS in Serbia.