Our partner, 100% LIFE, has been fighting for the rights of people living with HIV in Ukraine for 20 years.
As the organization celebrates its anniversary today, it is globally renowned for its expert work in rights, fighting corruption, and increasing access to medicines. Started by people living with HIV, for people living with HIV, here are just some of their recent, groundbreaking successes and interviews with their talented and tireless activists.
We’re proud to call them a campaign partner.
Interviews
Valeria crossed the frontline – risking her life to save others. © Gemma Taylor/MMA
- Valeria: Crossing the frontline to reach prisoners with HIV treatment in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
“I was aghast – I suddenly realised that if we didn’t do it no-one would do it. I thought no-one gives a fuck about our fucking HIV. I was furious. So we did it. We did it without armed vehicles, international protection, protective gear and big salaries.” - Danylo: Positive attitudes start with teaching – and effective HIV treatment
“I talk to people about HIV…I’ve been sharing facts about HIV since I was 11, when I first found out I was living with HIV. There’s still a lot of stigma that exists in Ukraine, and some crazy myths. Like what? Well, one rumour is that it’s a biological weapon, developed by America to harm citizens in other countries. The KGB spread the myth in the 1980s and some people still believe it now.” - Vera: “Gender equality is key to increasing HIV treatment”
“When a woman is diagnosed with HIV the first essential thing she needs is acceptance. You must wrap her in love, care and support – like a baby.” - Andrei: “The church and HIV treatment activism go hand-in-hand”
“I’m never apart from this book, it’s what inspires me,” says Andrei, 44, a black leather bible firmly in his hand. He’s a minister of the Baptist Church in Ukraine. “I’m never without these either,” he says, also gripping his HIV medication. “And I do read other books too,” he laughs. - Dima: Patents, parenting, and putting people’s rights first
“Our charitable organization, 100% LIFE, has been fighting corruption in Ukraine for 20 years… We have removed around eight corrupt ministers from their position, and so we have an army against us.” - Petro: Providing the protection he didn’t have
“I’ve seen how things have changed. A lot of people moving to Kyiv now are internally displaced people (IDP) because of the war. Some people I know came to find work in the big city, and what they found they could do was sex work.” - Kristina: A luxury travel writer’s journey through Ukraine’s health system as a TB patient
“After two weeks of daily treatment I had to leave. As I wasn’t military personnel, I’d have start paying the bill, and the cost is comparable to staying in a three-star hotel per night.”
Dima talking to the press outside a court in Kyiv where 100% LIFE i protesting © 100% LIFE
Recent significant successes!
- Breaking a ‘vicious cycle’ of overpaying for HIV drugs in Ukraine
Sergii Dmytriiev, is the Policy and Advocacy Director for 100% LIFE, our campaign partner in Ukraine. He explains why it took 5 years to stop overpaying for a HIV drug – even when patent barriers didn’t legitimately exist. - Breakthrough success as reformed patent law enters into force in Ukraine
Ukraine’s reformed patent law provides a framework to prevent unlawful patents and monopolies on essential drugs, which have restricted access to life-saving treatment in the country.
This follows years of advocacy campaigns, and cooperation between government, scientific institutions and international organizations.
