Ethical Guidelines for MSM sexual health projects

[Guest guest]

Naz Foundation International

Developing Ethical Guidelines for MSM Sexual Health

Projects

The following ethical principles and guidelines were

developed by participants attending the NFI Training

of MSM Trainers Programme, held at the NFI Regional

Liaison Office, 9th -14th September 2002. They have

not been produced in any specific order.

This Agency focuses on male-to-male sexualities and

sexual health concerns, particularly those who are

from socially excluded, marginalised and stigmatized

collectivities and are economically disadvantaged. In

its work the Agency will fully consider the

implications of males who have sex with males for

themselves, for any male or female sexual partners

such males may have, and for any clients of those

males who do sex work.

In this work we will be guided by the following

principles and guidelines:

1.Promote the reproductive and sexual health of

males who have sex with males by encouraging and

supporting sexual responsibility and safer sexual

practices.

2. Encourage and support males who have sex with

males to access early STD treatment whenever

necessary.

3. Respect confidentiality in the relationship

between males and their sexual partners and/or

clients, along with issues concerned with

self-identities, sexual practices, or STI/HIV status.

4. Promote the protection of children and

non-consenting adults from abusive sexual

relationships and encounters.

5. Promote the reproductive and sexual health of

any female partners of males who have sex with males

by encouraging greater sexual responsibility of their

male partners.

6. Encourage communication of sexual health

information between sexual partners and promoting

partner notification of STD/HIV infection,

irrespective of the gender of the partner.

7. Work with female reproductive and sexual

health services in order to facilitate appropriate

access to infected female partners of males who have

sex with males.

8.Collaborate with other HIV/AIDS NGOs and CBOs to

promote safer sex among all males and their sexual

partners

9.Address concerns relating to social justice and

human rights abuse that directly and indirectly affect

males who have sex with males.

10. Respect the right of each individual to

self-identify with whatever label, name, or framework

which they choose, and not impose identities upon

them.

11. Respect the differing frameworks of sexualities,

gender identification, behaviours and their

expressions along with those who invisibilise personal

sexual practices or do not wish to be labeled for

reasons of their own.

12. Respect each other irrespective of differing

social, educational and economic backgrounds,

religious affiliation, caste, age, colour, place of

origin, sexual choices, and self-identification.

13. Provide safe spaces and programmes which empower

and enable those from socially excluded, marginalized

and stigmatised collectivities through principles of

equity, equality, fairness and social justice.

14. Ensure that appropriate policies are implemented

by the Agency that deal with beneficiary and staff

complaints, disciplinary and dismissal procedures,

grievance procedures, equal opportunities, staff

development, and fair terms and conditions of

employment.

Along with these Guiding Principles, participants

developed a common set of office and working rules for

MSM sexual health projects.

RULES OF CONDUCT

There will be no discrimination based on Caste,

Colour, Class, Religious Affiliation, Political

Affiliation, Language, Region, Gender Identitification

and/or Sexual Identity, or Age.

Confidentiality will be respected at all times.

No staff should speak to any form of media about

the Agency without the express permission of the

Project Director.

Personal issues and inter-personal differences must

not be brought into the office or field-work.

All Staff are requested to behave with basic

courtesy and consideration towards each other and

towards service users.

Obscene behaviour in the office is unacceptable.

Sexual behaviours within the office is

unacceptable.

Physical and verbal abuse is unacceptable.

Sexual harassment of other staff and service users

is unacceptable.

Alcohol and/or illegal drugs are not allowed on the

premises.

Neither can a person come to office in an

intoxicated manner, either from alcohol and/or drugs.

Any damage to furniture and equipment must be

reimbursed.

Respect our neighbours. Inappropriate public

behaviour will lead to a poor reflection upon

yourself, other MSM and the Agency and its work. You

are asked to be considerate of this.

These ethical principles and Agency rules of conduct

were unanimously accepted by all the MSM Sexual Health

Projects present at the Workshop and adopted as

General Principles for ARMAN.

Arif Jafar

Director, NFI Regional Liaison Office

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Naz Foundation International: Regional Office Lucknow

9 Gulzar Colony, New Berry Lane,Lucknow 226001, UP, India

tel: +91 (0)522 205781 fax: +91 (0)522 205783

email: nazfoundint@...

London Office: Palingswick House, 241 King Street, London W6 9LP, UK.Tel:+44

(0)208 563 0191 fax: +44 (0)208 741 9841

email: kim@... Website:www.nazfoundint.com

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