Comments on the Civil Society & UNGASS

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

The attached document 'comments on the draft Declaration' [sorry, for

the attachment, please contact the author as this forum does not allow

attachments due to the fear of virus Moderator] is the outcome of

the 'civil society working meeting on the draft declaration of Commitment

for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS' held

between 25-27 April 2001, at Geneva.

I represented CARAM-ASIA [COORDINATION OF ACTION RESEARCH ON HIV/AIDS AND

MOBILITY IN ASIA] It is a regional participatory action research program on

HIV/AIDS and mobility in Asia. The Indian partner of CARAM is The Migrant

Forum. I am heading this Forum as its President, we are conducting research

and crisis intervention program for migrant workers. Our focus is on the

undocumented workers and illegal migrants. Their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS

is greater than anybody else in the mobile population.

The Geneva meeting was attended by about forty representing the civil

society. The draft declaration was discussed and commented by the

participants for three days. We incorporated the comments of the civil

society from many perspectives. We were four who worked on the 'HIV/AIDS

AND HUMAN RIGHTS' in the document. We incorporated as our suggestion

'rights based approach', which we thought should be followed througout the

document. As different groups worked on different aspects of the draft

document, the final draft was made in Canada by Mr. who is a

consultant to UNAIDS. Three of us one each from Africa, Asia and Latin

America were asked to comment on the 'comments of the civil society'. The

final comments on the draft declaration was rushed to New York where it is

being finalised.

We can use this as a lobby document in India to urge the government to

incorporate the comments made by the civil society working group. It is

important to get the commitment on the 'Global fund' and India's

contribution for that. Specifically we should incorporate the migrants,

domestic workers, constructions workers and other unorganised sectors which

are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS precisely because they are the largest mobile

population in India.

Having participated in that and working with the migrants, I will be happy

to explain and clarify some of the comments made in the draft declaration

by the civil society working meeting. Kindly inform any meeting to discuss

the draft declaration, so that if possible I will participate and explain

the context in which the comments have been made. Some of the comments

made are to be made culture and country specific. Let us prepare ourselves

fully at the national level before we go the UNGASS, so that we speake from

the point of view of the victims. Let us empower our people against HIV/AIDS.

My address is : 15, Bazaar street, Royapuram, Chennai - 600 013. Phone

residence : 91-44- 5272834. E.mail : aruno@...

Looking forward to hear from you

In solidarity,

Bernard D' Sami

E-mail:<aruno@...>

[Guest guest]

Dr.Bernard Sami,

There was a meeting of over 60 NGOs, consultants at the uNDP in Delhi on

16th.May. I repesented the Humsafar Trust which foscusses of gay men and

numerous other MSM sub-populations. We were really upset that there was no

specific mention of " sexual orientation " in the introduction nor was there

mention

of " emerging communities based on sexual orientations. " . With huge uncencused

populations of groups like hijras and organised homosexual networks/communities,

I really wonder how we were missed out.

Anyway, the draft finalised in Delhi does include them now and we hope the words

and phrases stay.

Regards

Ashok Row Kavi

E-mail: <arkavi@...>