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Published 4 August 2009

Increasing globalisation and associated tourism are thought to be key factors in the rising rates of HIV cases across Europe, according to research at the University of Brighton. More men are travelling abroad to have sex with other men and the 'fatigue' of prevention messages is seen as a major contributing reason for a 39 per cent increase in HIV cases between 2003 and 2007.

Co-funded by the European Commission, researchers at the University of Brighton are leading a major Pan-European health promotion intervention in an attempt to reverse the trend by spreading the word in places where men who have sex with men (MSM).

The project, led by Dr Nigel Sherriff and Professor John Kenneth Davies of the International Health Development Research Centre (IHDRC), aims to research, develop, and validate a European model of good practice of HIV prevention in MSM for use across Europe, and in particular, gay tourist destinations. It will do this, in part, by creating a network of social mediators to encourage businesses to become more socially responsible in the prevention of HIV. The Terrence Higgins Trust leads on this aspect of the work in collaboration with project partners.

So far it is planned that 140 businesses including gay dating websites, hotels, travel agents and sex venues throughout the UK and seven other EU countries will be awarded the 'Everywhere Seal of Social Responsibility' for their efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention. Developed by Syndicate National Des Enterprises Gaies (SNEG) in France in collaboration with project partners, this seal will be a visible recognition of quality and allow MSM to identify those businesses that are socially responsible in HIV prevention wherever they travel in Europe. Although coverage at the moment includes 8 countries (the UK, Italy, France, Poland, Cyprus, Slovenia, Hungary, and Spain) the IHDRC are planning to expand the project into all 27 EU member states.

The Everywhere Project involves stakeholders from various areas of public health and health promotion including non-governmental organizations active in HIV issues, academic and public health organisation, and organisations that unite gay business owners. The next step of the project involves partners from each of the participating countries attending a social mediator training event designed and facilitated by the Terrence Higgins Trust and hosted by the University of Brighton in September 2009.

For further information about the project see www.everywhereproject.eu.