The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is leveraging its role under two multi-country programmes funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to develop and roll out an innovative training package to reduce stigma and discrimination at health care settings and enhance HIV, STI and other sexual health services for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in Asia.
Bangkok/Los Angeles – In a recent survey of sexual and gender minorities in Nepal over 60 percent of respondents reported experiencing at least one incident of abuse or discrimination, and over one-third reported discrimination or abuse in three or more public settings. The research methodology and study was implemented through the Williams Institute and the Blue Diamond Society (BDS).
Bangkok – Across Asia, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people continue to face rights violations because of their sexual orientation and gender identity and weak knowledge of local legal systems impact on their ability to file formal complaints, or seek justice or legal redress.
The South Asia Regional Advocacy Framework and Resource Guide was developed to assist organizations in South Asia to work together on advocacy priorities for removing the legal and policy barriers that prevent MSM and transgender people from enjoying the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, particularly in relation to access to HIV prevention, treatment and care. It is focused as much on governments and national AIDS Programmes as it is on community organizations, as partnerships between governments and civil society have proven to be an effective vehicle for change in this area. It provides the background commitments, guidelines and evidence that can support advocacy efforts and a process that groups and individuals can follow to identify what needs to change, who they can work in partnership with and what strategies they can use.
The National AIDS Program, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), held a 2-day long national legal consultation on AIDS with a view to develop a time bound plan of action for the amendment of priority punitive and discriminatory laws that are impeding the HIV response in Bangladesh. Around 70 participants from government, judiciary, law enforcement