The Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 2002 by 37 African first ladies. The Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS works to cultivate a spirit of solidarity and the exchange of experiences among African first ladies and increase the capacity of First Ladies and other women leaders to advocate for effective solutions to respond to the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic, and acts against stigma and discrimination in the fight against HIV/AIDS, develops partnerships with international, regional and local donors, organizations, and partners, and raises awareness, develops, and supports prevention, treatment, and care programs. History In 2002, thirty-seven African first ladies met in Geneva at a meeting facilitated by UNAIDS and the International AIDS Trust (IAT). As a result of this meeting, the organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) was established as a collective voice for Africa’s most vulnerable people, women and children infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Since then, OAFLA has transformed itself from a forum of ideas to an institution capable of providing the continent-wide leadership needed to bring about change in peoples’ lives. With its permanent secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, OAFLA has moved from addressing the symptoms of the HIV/AIDS crisis to the root causes of poverty and the overall inequality of women in the region. Work and Campaigns The organisation and its members have taken on various causes including HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, maternal death, child mortality, women's empowerment, and youth empowerment. Member Countries The member countries and leaders as of 2014 are listed below: The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria The Republic of Angola The Republic of Benin Burkina Faso The Republic of Burundi The Republic of Cape Verde The Central African Republic The First Lady of Chad The Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros The Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire The Arab Republic of Egypt The Republic of Equatorial Guinea The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia The Gabonese Republic The Republic of The Gambia The First Lady of Ghana The Republic of Guinea The Republic of Guinea Bissau The First Lady of Kenya The Kingdom of Lesotho The Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya The Republic of Madagascar The Republic of Malawi The Republic of Mali The Republic of Mauritius The Republic of Mozambique The First Lady of Namibia The First Lady of Niger