Re: UNICEF in stigmatizing and discriminatory Media Campaign

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues,

This is heartening to hear about such episodes which need to be

addressed with a multi prong approach. It exposes the management issues

in organizing such media campaigns. Specialized management,

technological and editorial training is required when we are handling a

pandemic called AIDS. The lack of specialized training affects the

nature of the message and the way it is received by listeners or

readers. It is expected from managers to examine and be responsibly

critical of developments or policies which they are trying to

communicate. Sooner than later, inadequate, erroneous or misleading

information negates the credibility of the messenger as well as the

conveyer.

Meanwhile, mismanagement erodes financial viability, wise use of

existing resources, coverage, and in this case PLWHA morale. This also

indicates a necessity of a pool of effective communicators on second-or

third-language skills -- English, Hindi, Tamil and so on ---- amongst

the team, as sometimes absence of communication between managers and

editorial staff, leaves a vacuum on ground.

This issue is particularly important as a lot of IEC material may

potentially be misleading and stigmatizing. We cannot really blame media

or event management companies as there is a lack of policy

implementation environment. Hard-pressed managers in organizations

working on the social marketing of their HIV/AIDS related projects often

do not have much choice but to rely on new comers with very little

exposure in an industry with high attrition rate.

Need of the hour is to have a comprehensive policy implementation

protocol based on an agreed strategy with media consisting of a series

of coordinated and consistent programmes in a variety of complementary

fields with special emphasis on

-HIV/AIDS information programs for general public

-HIV/AIDS education programs for targeted population

Best,

Jagdish Harsh

E-mail: <jharsh@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

" HIV & AIDS Citizen Forum " at Lucknow took the initiative against these

messages on January 17 itself and communicated the angst to the both UNICEF

and UPSACS. Both shared that they had no intention of discriminating and

stigmatising the Positive Community and the deadline of removing the

hoarding was set by them was January 31st.

By that date, they could remove the discriminatory hoardings only in Lucknow

and Allahabad. On 3rd of February the civil society group in Varanasi

launched a public protest and media took up the issue. On February 4,

HIV & AIDS Citizen Forum organised a Press Conference in Lucknow and shared

the concern with the media. Both English and Hindi print media gave a good

coverage. Due to this immense pressure building on the 'duo' the hoardings

from all cities of UP have been taken down.

The senior management of UNICEF had again shared in person on February 14,

that they had no such intention and whatever happened was unfortunate on

their part and have promised the Forum that from now onwards the Forum would

be consulted before initiating any such media campaign or other HIV & AIDS

related programmes.

regards,

Harjeet Singh

Member of " HIV & AIDS Citizen Forum "

E-mail: <harjeet@...>

[Guest guest]

Two messages. Combined posting (Moderator)

1) Amitrajit Saha

Dear Forum,

It's great to hear from Mr. Harjeet that UNICEF and UPSACS have taken down the

anti-HIV campaign hoardings that were discriminatory to PLWHA. That's a great

victory won and congratulations to all the civil society organisations and

forums that took the initiative.

An added success of this campaign has been that UNICEF and UPSACS have agreed

to have representatives from affected CBOs prior to similar initiatives in

future. That's a lesson they've been forced to learn by the community...

This incident also highlights the importance of vigilance that we need to

maintain over bilateral agencies and SACS, etc. Just because they fund and

provide " expertise " does not mean they are reconstructed with re to sex,

sexuality, gender, STIs and HIV infection all of which are necessary

to address the epidemic!

Once again, congratulations for success in withdrawl of advertisements/hoardings

offensive to affected communities.

In solidarity,

Amitrajit

Dr. Amitrajit Saha

Kolkata (India)

E-mail: amitrajitsaha@...

___________________________

2) Mike marksman

Dear Forum,

After Mumbai it seems the heat is on in Uttar Pradesh to bring down the

activities done by few people.

Internationally in the name of development people have a very strong desire to

be recognized without being creative.

The sentence is enclosed below by Mr Harjeet Singh <harjeet@...

Member of " HIV & AIDS Citizen Forum " in Uttar Pradesh "

" The senior management of UNICEF had again shared in person on February 14, that

they had no such intention and whatever happened was unfortunate on their part

and have promised the Forum that from now onwards the Forum would be consulted

before initiating any such media campaign or other HIV & AIDS related programmes. "

God bless the people involved in HIV work. We shall stop cutting each others

roots but shall build upon the positive strentghs.

All the best to UNICEF for managing the show. Learn and start greasing butter on

the activists.

with regards,

Mike

E-mail: <aidswatchindia@...>