Participation request: Documenting the Impact of Government and Donor Policy Restrictions

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Subject: Participation request: Documenting the Impact of Government and Donor

Policy Restrictions

Community Voices: Documenting the Impact of Government and Donor Policies

Restricting HIV/AIDS Services.

Over the last 25 years since the history of the AIDS epidemic, it has become

increasingly apparent that social, cultural, economic and legal factors

exacerbate the spread of HIV and heighten the impact of HIV/AIDS.

In almost all cases, socially marginalized groups such as sex workers, men who

have sex with men (MSM) and injecting drug users (IDUs) are disproportionately

vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and its consequences.

Today, ideological agendas and restrictions are threatening to undermine some of

the positive gains that have been made in the HIV response.

Government and donor restrictions on vulnerable groups (such as sex

workers, injecting drug users and men who have sex with men) are leading to

further marginalization of those already in the fringes of society and

single-focused prevention strategies such as abstinence “only campaigns are

reducing access to and undermining public confidence in condoms as a tool for

HIV prevention.

ICASO is thus undertaking a project to document donor and government

policies that restrict the HIV response. This information from frontline workers

in different countries will provide strong basis for evidence informed

programming. The findings from this project will be disseminated extensively at

AIDS2006 and at other policy forums to challenge governments and donors to amend

these policies that are undermining the response to HIV and AIDS.

The project will examine donor and government restrictions in the

following areas:

A. Abstinence only focused prevention policies

B. Harm reduction policies

C. Policy and legal restrictions on sex work

D. Laws and policy restrictions on men who have sex with men (MSM)

NGOs and CBOs worldwide are invited to send ICASO their experiences around donor

and government policy restrictions that have affected their response to HIV/AIDS

services. Please answer the following questions and send us your response by

July 25, 2006 to restrictions@...

______________________

National Policy (e.g. legislation, National AIDS Plan, etc)

Note: Please do not exceed 500 words

1. Does your country have restrictive laws or policies that violate basic human

rights of marginalized groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men and

injecting drug users? If yes, please elaborate.

What are some of the other restrictive policies?

2. Please share your experience around such policies and how these are affecting

effective delivery of HIV services to these vulnerable groups.

Donor Policies: Note: Please do not exceed 500 words

1. Has your organization lost funding due to donor policies that are

ideologically driven and your refusal to follow some of the donor

guidelines?

Or have you been pressured into adapting your programs?

2. Explain how this has affected your delivery of HIV services

Note: Ideologically driven policies are those which are not guided by sound

evidence but more by beliefs. For example donors might place restrictions on

accessing their funds for organizations working with marginalized communities

such as sex workers. Or, donors provide funding for groups advocating for

abstinence only prevention methods.

Section C: Contact Details

Name:

Organization:

Address:

Job Title:

Telephone:

Email:

Please indicate if you do not wish your and your organization’s name and

contact details to be published. Again, please send us your response by July

25, 2006 to restrictions@....

Thank you for your participation in this project

International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)

65 Wellesley St. E., Suite 403

Toronto, ON M4Y 1G7

CANADA

Tel: + 1-416-921-0018

Fax: + 1-416-921-9979

E-mail: restrictions@...

Web site: www.icaso.org