People's Panchayat on Resisting Stigma and Discrimination

[Guest guest]

People's Panchayat on Resisting Stigma and Discrimination

8th April, 2004, 9.30 AM to 1.30 PM

Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre

Action Plus - a network of organisations working on HIV/AIDS, Social justice and

Human rights presents a people's panchayat on the concerns of stigmatized

communities of sex workers, sexuality minorities and people living with

HIV/AIDS.

Through the voices and visions of survivors and resistors, the Peoples Panchayat

seeks to understand and unravel the heroic battles against stigma and

discrimination and the hidden realities of people infected and affected by HIV.

The increasing violence and vulnerability associated with HIV/AIDS related

stigma in India is of growing concern. The violence of a judgmental attitude, of

forced circumstances, is forcing people to accept survival strategies that

increases vulnerability to life threatening situations. There is devaluation of

livelihoods and life systems of entire communities of people who practice

alternate sexuality; to the absolute erosion of all notions of rights or dignity

for people living with HIV/ AIDS.

The People's Panchayat hopes to,

Advocate for and share widely the issues, concerns and opportunities related to

the core theme from the perspective of the victims, survivors and resistors of

the violence of - stigmatisation, discrimination and a judgmental attitude.

Provide a forum to share, reflect and have a deeper understanding of the

phenomenon of stigma and discrimination in different contexts.

Recognise and build upon the strengths and survival strategies of affected

persons towards challenging and transforming discriminatory social and legal

policies and evolving a notion of rights rooted in their realities.

At the Panchayat there would be 8 testimonies of resistors from Bangalore,

Chennai, Delhi, Indore, Nippani, Pune, Sangli and Surat, and experts who have

worked on the issues of stigma, discrimination and HIV/AIDS. A Panch (jury)

comprising of eminent personalities will hear the testimonies and the experts

and present their observations to the Panchayat.

The honourable Panch are - Sayeeda Hameed (former member N.C.W), Usha Mehra

(retd. judge, Delhi High Court), Dr. Mohan Rao (JNU), Harsh Mander (Action Aid),

Collin (India Director, BBC World Service Trust)

Anand Grover (Lawyers Collective) and Mona Mishra (Positive Lives) will present

the current scenario of HIV/AIDS and stigma-discrimination as experts in the

Panchayat.

We invite you to be a part of this collective endeavour, listen to the Voices

and extend solidarity in our struggle for justice.

In Solidarity,

Meena Seshu, Anjali Gopalan, A.K. Ganesh

for

ACTION PLUS

The Action Plus partners are -

1.. Creating Resources for Empowerment and Action (CREA), Delhi

2.. Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore

3.. Center for Development Initiatives (CDI), Thane

4.. International Services Association, India (INSA), Bangalore

5.. India Rural Reconstruction and Disaster Response Service (PREPARE), Chennai

6.. Nalamdana, Chennai

7.. National Addiction Research Centre (NARC), Mumbai

8.. The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, Delhi

9.. Point of View (POV), Mumbai

10.. Prayas, Pune

11.. Sampada Grameen Mahila Sanstha (SANGRAM), Sangli

12.. The Service of Society Medical and Educational Foundation (SOS), Nasik

13.. Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health in India (TARSHI), Delhi

14.. Tata Institute for Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai

15.. Y.R. Gaitonde Medical, Educational and Research Foundation (YRG CARE),

Chennai

" SANGRAM "

E-mail:<san_meena@...>