ICASO is a Canadian organization that acts as a global policy voice on HIV issues that impact diverse communities around the world. They understand that technology alone will not solve the AIDS epidemic, but that people and communities will continue to be central to this fight, particularly as they combat stigma, discrimination, and legal barriers to health and rights. Further, they believe that communities are best equipped to articulate their own needs, priorities, and solutions. Thus their advocacy work champions the leadership of civil society and key populations in the effort to end AIDS.  They do this through collaborative partnerships with people and organizations in all regions and various sectors, always with a view to serving and empowering communities.

Paramount to their approach is the principle of greater involvement and meaningful engagement of people living with HIV.  As described by UNAIDS, “It is a principle that aims to realize the rights and responsibilities of people living with HIV, including their right to self-determination and participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives.”  They believe it enhances the quality and effectiveness of the AIDS response and as such, ICASO endeavors to apply this principle in their work and to advance and sustain the greater involvement of people living with HIV in all aspects of the response.

ICASO is guided by the perspectives of key populations in the HIV epidemic, including people living with HIV, people who use drugs, sex workers, transgender people, men who have sex with men, indigenous people, prisoners, and migrants, as well as women and young people. They recognize that these communities must be at the center of the global AIDS response. Because of the marginalization and criminalization faced by key populations, it is vital to support communities to speak out for human rights and to advocate for policy reform and effective programming at all levels.

Vision and Mission

ICASO’s vision is an end to the HIV epidemic with strong contributions by communities in all their diversity to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and to defending and promoting human rights.

ICASO’s mission is to mobilize and support diverse community organizations and networks to create and sustain effective responses to HIV.