HIV and AIDS, along with TB and Hepatitis, are a serious threat for prison populations in many countries, and presents significant challenges for prison officials, public health authorities and national Governments. The generally accepted principle that prisons and prisoners remain part of the broader community means that the health threat of HIV within prisons, and the health threat outside of prisons, are inextricably linked and therefore demand coordinated action.

With this in mind, the African HIV in Prisons Partnership Network (AHPPN) has been developed to support the growth and implementation of effective responses to HIV and AIDS in prisons on the continent. The Network proposes to be the lead organisation for advocacy and international, national and multi-sectoral cooperation and action, in order to support Governments in their efforts to mount an effective, human rights-based response to HIV/TB in prisons in Africa. With a broad focus on the issue of HIV and AIDS in prisons the Network will also serve as a forum to enhance capacity to address the broader criminal justice and prison health reform challenges in Africa and support the work of both correctional services and national AIDS councils in Africa.

This web-based component of the AHPPN forms part of the wider Network and aims to build on an online community of persons with an interest in HIV in prison settings.