Laws in the book' and 'laws in the practice'

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Document and share your experience of 'laws in the book' and 'laws in the

practice'

An effective prevention starts with people's participation at all level of the

public health programme. Though rights based approach is gaining growing support

at policy level, but in practice it is far from the right track.

Before it is too late, we think it's time to evaluate TI programme in the

country whether it's truly facilitating people's participation in the programme,

whether it's on right track towards community's ownership over the programme.

Only people's participation and ownership over the programme can devise

situation and culture specific strategy and develop a robust network for

vigilance.

Our experience shows besides other reasons, state mediated violence and

vulnerability plays havoc in the spreading of HIV/AIDS in India.

It also hinders people's participation, specially vulnerable groups'

participation in the programme.

Here in India 'laws in the book' and laws on the street/practice differs

substantially, here authority's own understanding and perception dictates them

more than the laws.

Sex workers and PLWHAs' everyday experience with police and government hospitals

testifies this. Since its inception Durbar is fighting against all sorts of

state mediated violence and vulnerability.

We would like to know your experience of state mediated violence towards at risk

groups and how you are facing it. We believe if we all regularly post our

experience and understanding of state mediated violence (or the laws in the book

and laws in practice) it would help everybody to develop a comprehensive

understanding of it.

It may also help all of us to devise advocacy strategy and materials which can

be used at national as well local level.

In solidarity and expectation,

DMSC, Kolkata

Durbar

e-mail: <dmsc_taah@...>