Stories – Global Commission on HIV and the Law

Stories

Global Stories

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Achieving the 10-10-10 HIV targets by 2025

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No time to lose

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Let communities lead

Regional Stories

UNDP’s HIV and Health Group (HHG) includes pillars emphasizing the reduction of inequalities and social

exclusion that drive HIV and poor health as well as the promotion of effective and inclusive governance for

health. Globally and within Africa, this work includes an emphasis on populations that are marginalized

and excluded because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.

In 2020, UNDP HHG established the #WeBelongAfrica Programme (WBA) which integrates two projects,

namely the “Inclusive Governance Initiative” (IGI) and the “Southern Africa Young Key Population

Initiative” (SAYKPI). The programme is designed to support state entities in sub-Saharan Africa to become

increasingly accountable and responsive to, and inclusive of, LGBTI people and young key populations,

which in turn will contribute to better laws, more responsive public sector services and social norms that

affirm these populations’ perspectives, needs and rights.

Discriminatory and punitive laws and practices across Africa limit the rights of marginalized populations,

including LGBTI and HIV key populations, to equality, inclusion, health and development. Progressive

jurisprudence by sensitized judges can help create frameworks that protect rights and promote inclusion.

The Africa Regional Judges’ Forum (ARJF) was first convened 10 years ago, as a follow up to the

recommendations of the 2012 report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Risks, Rights & Health.

which emphasised the protective role of law in promoting the rights of marginalized populations and

reducing the number of new HIV infections.

With ongoing support from UNDP, the ARJF has held regular, annual in-person forums since that time. The

Forum has been led by a leadership group of well-respected African judges and has grown in strength from

11 judges in its first year, to meetings of over 120 participants from late 2022 to 2023, includ

10 years of progress: Advancing rights, inclusion and health through the African Regional Judges Forum

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Changing lives: the transformative power of NGOs that support people living with and affected by HIV and people with disabilities

UNDP’s HIV and Health Group (HHG) includes pillars emphasizing the reduction of inequalities and social

exclusion that drive HIV and poor health as well as the promotion of effective and inclusive governance for

health. Globally and within Africa, this work includes an emphasis on populations that are marginalized

and excluded because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.

In 2020, UNDP HHG established the #WeBelongAfrica Programme (WBA) which integrates two projects,

namely the “Inclusive Governance Initiative” (IGI) and the “Southern Africa Young Key Population

Initiative” (SAYKPI). The programme is designed to support state entities in sub-Saharan Africa to become

increasingly accountable and responsive to, and inclusive of, LGBTI people and young key populations,

which in turn will contribute to better laws, more responsive public sector services and social norms that

affirm these populations’ perspectives, needs and rights.

Discriminatory and punitive laws and practices across Africa limit the rights of marginalized populations,

including LGBTI and HIV key populations, to equality, inclusion, health and development. Progressive

jurisprudence by sensitized judges can help create frameworks that protect rights and promote inclusion.

The Africa Regional Judges’ Forum (ARJF) was first convened 10 years ago, as a follow up to the

recommendations of the 2012 report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Risks, Rights & Health.

which emphasised the protective role of law in promoting the rights of marginalized populations and

reducing the number of new HIV infections.

With ongoing support from UNDP, the ARJF has held regular, annual in-person forums since that time. The

Forum has been led by a leadership group of well-respected African judges and has grown in strength from

11 judges in its first year, to meetings of over 120 participants from late 2022 to 2023, includ

Judges from Eastern Europe and Central Asia gather in Moldova to discuss the region’s pressing issues around health, HIV, human rights and the law

Country Stories

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Mandaue City strengthens protection against LGBTQ+ discrimination

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HIV status: challenges that women face

Stories of Compassion and Resilience: Gulnara Abdrasheva’s Journey in Healthcare

The Price of Freedom: Tatyana Medenko’s Story

“My Home” for those in need

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Supporting key population-led organizations in Angola to remove barriers to HIV services

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Pride and progress

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A Name of One’s Own: Empowering Trans People through Identity