AIDS claimed around 36 million lives between 1981 and 2016, and a similar number around the world currently live with the HIV virus. There is now scientific evidence showing that HIV-positive individuals receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment suppress the HIV virus in their bloodstreams so dramatically that they are very unlikely to transmit the virus to others. This discovery has led to the 90-90-90 set of goals and although not without its challenges, there is agreement that the 90-90-90 targets are attainable making the end of AIDS within reach. For more about the progress achieved to date, the challenges addressed and those ahead, please click here:
GRAN Co-Chair, Hillary Elliot, joined with other Canadian CSO representatives in Ottawa this past Wednesday to meet with Julia Gillard, Chair of the Global Partnership for Education. Julia was in Ottawa to raise awareness of the critical importance of education in development. Click here to read Julia Gillard’s OpEd in the Ottawa Citizen on how Canada can help boost girls' education globally.
It has been an exceptional year for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The GPE welcomed four new partner countries, funded US$4.6 billion in grants to over 50 countries, trained over 240,000 teachers, distributed 30 million textbooks, built 3,000 classrooms and joined forces with new global ambassador, Rihana.
To see more of GPE’s accomplishments and their year in review watch the following short video.
Please enjoy this article from Doctors Without Borders website, acknowledging GRAN's help with their afairshot.org campaign.
Happy New Year ...
Great News! Millions more children in sub Saharan Africa will soon be able to go to school.
The Board of Directors of the Global Partnership for Education approved US$90.6 million to improve the education of millions of children and youth in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe to strengthen their countries’ education systems, to improve equity and to increase access to quality education. These grants will help children who live in difficult environments to go to school, stay in school and learn with quality teachers.
Read more at
This week UNAIDS, for the first time, will hold a thematic session on HIV/AIDS and aging. The background document contains the latest information and has a special section on AIDS and older women. You can read it here, but the highlights are on pages 4 and 5.
It is time to address ageism and gender inequality within the HIV response and consult directly with older women living with HIV to understand their needs concerns, values and perspectives.
Recently, a few GRANs attended a workshop on “Evaluating Advocacy” put on by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. One of the learnings from the workshop was that doing advocacy frequently involves shifting strategies and multiple actors, thus making evaluation difficult. To make a plausible case for the effectiveness of advocacy, it is important to gather supporting evidence as the work unfolds. An example of evidence of our effectiveness occurred in the House last week when MP Anita Vandenbeld, speaking in memory of the survivors and victims of the Ecole Polytechnique killings, concluded by applauding the Grandmothers Advocacy Network. Capturing informal and formal comments such as this one are an important testament to our growing influence. Read MP Vandenbeld's statement here.
An estimated 276 million children globally are harassed and abused in and around school every year. 20% of girls drop out of school because
of school related gender based violence (SRGBV) and it is a serious barrier to learning. Girls have a right to learn, a right to be in school
and a right to be safe and protected.
How can schools move from mirroring gender inequalities and discrimination in the home and community to places that promote gender equality
and the rights of children? Find out more at
December 1 is World AIDS Day and in recognition we look back at the history of the pandemic, we acknowledge the progress that has been made and we look to the future and all that needs to be done to eradicate HIV/AIDS. Please read this article written by Mark Dybul, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
GRANs all across Canada are rallying today to "orange" Canada in support of the United Nations UNiTE to End Violence against Women and Girls "Orange the World" campaign.
Click here to read about GRAN "Orange" efforts in Saskatoon.
And check out our Facebook Page and our Twitter feed for GRAN events and photos from across the country.
Apr 12, 2024
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Apr 10, 2024
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday in favour of a group of more than 2000 older women from Switzerland who had argued that their government's inadequate efforts to combat... Read more
Mar 21, 2024
Tremendous politicized hype and disinformation have been hitting the airwaves and social media lately around Canada's climate policies and, in particular, carbon pricing. Climate policies have... Read more