The VIDDA Group of Rio de Janeiro (GPV-RJ) was founded on May 24, 1989, by writer Herbert Daniel. It is the first group founded in Brazil by people living with HIV and AIDS, their friends and family. Its actions and initiatives are guaranteed by the intense dedication of volunteers and professionals engaged in the fight against the epidemic in the country. There are several people involved in the daily life of the organization (including users, volunteers and employees), and an important group of volunteers who work in various actions, projects and specific and / or strategic activities (manifestos, December 1st, events etc.). In their last political acts of December 1st (2007-2010) they gathered approximately 1500 volunteers and a mobilization of around 5000 people each year. As they are not for profit, GPV-RJ is maintained through a series of financing from Brazilian and international institutions that work in health and social development. It also has a large number of important local partnerships, such as organizations fighting for the defense of citizenship and the public health network. The main objectives of the Pela VIDDA-RJ Group are to break the isolation and deconstruct the stigma related to the disease; the reintegration into the social daily life of people living with HIV and AIDS; Finally, the defense of their rights and the guarantee of their dignity . To this end, the Group develops various mutual aid activities at its headquarters for various specific groups (women, men, youth, transvestites, etc.). Since 1990, the organization has provided free legal assistance to people affected by the epidemic, having already benefited over 3,500 individuals. Created the first regular telephone information service on the subject in Brazil (Dial-aids for VIDDA). Among the external activities, there is the Rio Buddy Project for home monitoring of people living with AIDS, in partnership with the Arco-Íris Group, since 1997. GPV-RJ is dedicated to a strong political articulation, considering it the main means of social transformation. Therefore, seeking to be directly involved in the formulation of public health policies, it actively participates in the various municipal and state health and social development forums, councils and assemblies. The Group contributes directly or indirectly to specific HIV-AIDS fora, such as the National Committee for HIV Vaccines, the National AIDS Commission, the National Health Council, the UNAIDS Thematic Group in Brazil. In addition, the Group was a founding member of the Rio de Janeiro State AIDS Forum (1997), and has recently helped to found the State Forum for the Fight against Tuberculosis in the State of Rio de Janeiro (2003).

In order to keep the population informed and mobilized on the issues surrounding the epidemic, the Group develops various primary and secondary prevention activities, training activities, publications and information material for specific segments. It often promotes workshops, refresher seminars on a variety of AIDS issues, as well as international seminars. Finally, it is responsible, together with the Grupo VIDDA-Niterói, for the largest regular community conference on HIV and AIDS in Latin America, the National Meeting of People Living with HIV and AIDS.

Goals

“Promoting the quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS through the defense of fundamental human rights, the guarantee of access to information, the fight against discrimination and other forms of social exclusion, the building of a more solidary and socially based society. fair".