Organization that deals with prevention of HIV/AIDS deprived of legal address
The public association
"Vstrecha" has to vacate its office in Uralski Passage,
15-501.
The problem has not been resolved due to the fact that
the premises which are lent in Minsk either have a high cost of rent
(more than 13 Euros per 1 square meter) or are quite large (over 25
square meters).
As far as the office was rented from the funds
of the Global Fund, the main recipient of funds which is the UNDP,
the criteria for the office coordinates the UNDP.
Despite the
daily views of various Internet sites, newspaper ads, signs on the
houses, the administration of "Vstrecha" didn't manage to
find a place which would meet the criteria.
In addition,
"Vstrecha" twice sent letters to the Main Economic Board of
the Presidential Administration to reconsider the decision to
terminate the rent agreement. The head of teh organization, Aleh
Yaromin, met with the head of the Board of the Buildings of State
Property Aliaksandr Prylisch asked to keep the rental space for the
NGO at the commercial price, since on 8 May 2013 "Vstrecha"
and a number of other organizations were deprived of benefits for
rent and signed an additional agreement. However, the organization
received two refusals. In a private talk Prylishch also confirmed
that the reason was the "legal wish to stop contractual
relationship with "Vstrecha"".
The NGO applied
to the Ministry of Health Care for support, but there is still no
information about any relevant actions on its part. It is only known
that the Deputy Minister had a telephone conversation with an officer
of the Main Economic Board and was told that the reason for the
eviction was the liquidation of the rental benefits and nothing else.
On 29 May all equpment and assets were taken out of the
office. The NGO filed a statement to the tax office that it was
looking for premises to register its legal address. According to the
legislation, the organization can be liquidated provided it doesn't
register a new legal address within two months.
Commenting on
the situation, the Head of "Vstrecha" Aleh Yaromin said:
"Our organization is unique, the only one in the country which
provides access to services for the prevention of HIV infection.
"Vstrecha" is not engaged in political activity and has
always worked in partnership with the government in combating
HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Belarus. Over the years, we have
conducted research and participated in epidemic surveillance,
organized HIV tests performed outreach work and counseling, but the
opportunity to continue this important work is under
threat."
Reference
"Vstrecha"
has operated in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention since 1998. Its
directions of work include the organization of anonymous diagnosis
for HIV/AIDS and STIs; outreach-counseling, psychological counseling,
telephone counseling hotlines behavioral research. The prophylactical
activities of "Vstrecha" covered 10,811 people during the
last two years.
