AIDS related stigma and discrimination in the Asia Pacific

[Guest guest]

Stigma and discrimination in the Asia Pacific

- Joe

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Recently, the Ford Foundation has offered a grant to the Deakin

University, Melbourne Australia for a project on Understanding

the public health response to AIDS related stigma and discrimination

in the Asia Pacific region .

Stigma and discrimination are increasingly being recognised as

important forces in the general health and well being of

populations. With this comes a compelling justification for Public

Health practice to focus on these issues as one avenue for

addressing social inequalities in health. In the context of HIV/AIDS,

vulnerability is reduced in an environment in which stigma

and discrimination are reduced. Those infected with and affected by

HIV/AIDS can live a life of dignity without discrimination

and the personal and societal impact of HIV infection is alleviated

(UN 1998)

This project proposes to review the progress achieved by seven

countries, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia,

Vietnam and China with respect to the discrimination and

stigmatisation of people who are HIV positive. This project has a

particular interest in reviewing the progress of the states effort to

ensuring humane care and support for those infected and affected

by HIV/AIDS.

The proposed project is a pilot component of larger project that

involves a regional network, action research, training and

advocacy on AIDS, Public Health, stigma and discrimination. The

proposed network will ensure that the discussion of problems,

policy formulations and identification of solutions is socially,

politically and culturally appropriate but will have the secondary

purpose of identifying and drawing upon resources within the region.

The network incorporates the insights gained by earlier

regional network themes such as legal and ethical issues, economic

issues, gender issues, formal, private and organized sector

issues and incorporates them into the area of AIDS, public health,

stigma and discrimination.

Core activities/ components.

A situational analysis of HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination

in the Asia Pacific;

Review policies which address stigma and discrimination in the context

of AIDS and public health in the region;

Prepare an annotated bibliography of regional studies, and reports on

AIDS, public health, stigma and discrimination in the

region;

Conduct regional and national workshop on AIDS, public health, stigma

and discrimination; and

Set up communication channels to disseminate the findings through

electronic and print media and to set up a web page and an

electronic newsletter on AIDS, public health, stigma and

discrimination in the Asia Pacific region.

This project intends to link concerned and involved individuals and

institutions in the area of AIDS, public health, stigma and

discrimination and to raise awareness and understanding on the

linkages between these issues in the Asia Pacific region. The

proposed project seeks to empower individuals, communities,

organizations and institutions through the strategic questioning of

and reflecting on the issues of stigma and discrimination as they

relate to HIV/AIDS. This will lead to a better understanding of

the issues, which can facilitate appropriate actions locally and

regionally.

Although, the second international consultation on HIV/AIDS and human

rights proposed a set of international guidelines to

combat stigma and discrimination, the progress of implementing these

guidelines has been very slow. Most countries have

national AIDS committees. However, there is a persistent lack of

attention to stigma and discrimination issues relating to the

HIV/AIDS epidemic. Most countries so far have taken no efforts

systematically to assess the progress of its implementation. It

appears that a systematic assessment of the progress of implementation

of international guidelines to combat discrimination

would be an effective advocacy tool. Such an effort would contribute

to international and regional efforts to combat HIV/AIDS

related discrimination.

Specific activities: The project is to be implemented in two phases.

During the first phase of this project the following activities

are to be conducted.

A national review of progress in addressing issues of stigma and

discrimination related to HIV/AIDS in India, Thailand,

Vietnam, Indonesia, China, and Philippines.

A national consultation on the progress in addressing issues of stigma

and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS in India,

Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, and Philippines.

6th ICAAP- Concurrent conference on stigma and discrimination related

to HIV/AIDS in the Asia Pacific region

The process: The assessment will be carried out in each country with

the help of a panel comprising relevant experts and

stakeholders, such as the national AIDS programe managers, the

affiliates of the network of PLWHAs, community based

agencies, NGOs and other collaborating partners in all the target

countries. We have already recruited credible national

agencies/NGOs/academic institutions to carry out this assessment in

each country. Key stakeholders (such as, members of the

national human rights commissions, staff of bilateral and UN agencies,

National and International agencies, and representatives

of the PLWHA) will be interviewed to collect data for the national

review.

The investigators of this project would like to hear from all those

who are involved or interested in research, policy and program

on issues related to AIDS related stigma and discrimination in Asia

Pacific region.

We are particularly keen to hear from you if you are planning to

attend the 6th ICAAP and or you are planning to present a

paper on any of these issues. For more details please contact:

Joe , PhD. (joet@...)

Principal Investigator:

OR

Co-Principal Investigator:

Reidpath, PhD (readpath@...)

School of Health Sciences

Deakin University

221 Burwood Hwy

Burwood VIC 3125

AUSTRALIA

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- A cross posting from sea-aids@...

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