Addressing the Silent Cry of White Rainbow’s!

[Guest guest]

Dear forum,

Positive Women Network (PWN+) is the National Network of women

living with HIV working for the empowerment of women and children

affected by HIV/AIDS to live a life of dignity and equality free

from stigma and discrimination.

Among the various challenges faced by Women Living with HIV, the

most ironical is the barriers that they faced in accessing schemes

and programmes of the government. It is no secret that the destitute

Widow Living with HIV are not able to access even Pension Schemes

due to specific problems like lack of information, and Knowledge and

corruption in the government system, etc.,

Objective:

In order to generate a response from the Government to end this

unhealthy trend, the Positive Women's Network (PWN+) organizing a

State level Advocacy workshop to address the needs of Women Living

with HIV/AIDS from 11 Districts of Tamilnadu-Chennai, Vilupuram,

Namakkal, Madurai, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Salem, ooty,

Thirunelveli, Coimbatore, and Trichy.

This consultation aim at improving access of Women living with

HIV/AIDS to the programmes and schemes of government specifically

one important issue that is Pension for Destitute Women living with

HIV/AIDS and other Schemes under Social Welfare department.

Prior to this Program around 100 women from 11 Districts

participated in the Focus Group Discussion and their concerns would

be addressed before the representatives of the Government agencies.

The program will have:

• Representation of WLHA from 11 districts of Tamilnadu.

• Open House Interaction

• Discussion with government officials

• Response from the Government.

Chief guests:

• Honorable Minister Ms.Geetha Jeevan- Social welfare.

• Ms.Ramatthal- President-State Commission for Women.

• Representation from Revenue Administration.

• Representation from Social Welfare Board.

• Representation from SACS.

• Organizations and Networks working with WLHA and Human Rights.

• Participation and Representation of WLHA throughout Tamilnadu.

Expected Outcome:

Through this State Level Advocacy PWN+ and TPWN+ expected

valuable Recommendations to the departments and a Government Order has to Send

to all Thasildar offices to prioritize WLHIV in terms of

Widow Pension and Provide necessary certificates to access these schemes.

A separate Data of the Number of Widow Women Living HIV/ AIDS in

Tamilnadu and the Number of Widows getting Widow Pension should be

collected by the Social Welfare Department and Revenue

Administration

Ensure eligible Widow WLHA to get the Pension assistance provided

by the government.

PWN+ Welcomes:

We Welcome all Organizations and Networks working with WLHA to

Participate voluntarily and contribute valuable comments in the

Program which would help to motivate the Government towards the

issue and give solidarity to the destitute Widow Living with

HIV /AIDS.

Date and Venue of the Program:

22.07.08- Tuesday 10 a.m to 1.00 p.m

" Book Point Hall " , No: 160, Opposite to Spenzer Plaza,

Salai, Chennai- 600 002.

Phone: 044-28523346/ 28523358

In Solidarity,

P.Kousalya,

President,PWN+

" Suseela "

e-mail: <suseelaanand@...>