Positive Women's Conclave in Orissa

[Guest guest]

HIV Positive Women’s Conclave in Orissa

 

1. WHAT: AHEAD OF ELECTIONS HIV POSITIVE WOMEN UNITE TO MAKE THEIR DEMANDS HEARD

 

As the country gears up for the elections, the women members of various positive

networks of Orissa are planning to make a call to different political parties to

make second-line anti-retroviral treatment available to those with advanced HIV

infection.

The women are preparing to deliberate on the issues faced by people living with

HIV and AIDS, especially women, that need to be raised during the election

process as well as during the government formation phase and beyond. The

conclave will culminate in a presentation of a charter of demands to the

candidates contesting in the forth-coming assembly and parliamentary elections.

 

Being a collective effort of the positive networks, (especially women’s),

civil society organizations, and INGOs, the conclave is expected to not only

sensitise the political leaders to the concerns, rights and entitlements of

people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) but also mainstream their rights and

dignity-related issues in the national political discourse.

 

2. WHY

 

The people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) live with a great deal

of discrimination, deprivation and exclusion. Most PLWHAs are denied medical

treatment, access to education, marital rights, employment and a dignified life.

While their rights are ruthlessly violated in every sphere, there exists no

legislation for redressal.

Poor support from the government as well as exorbitant drug prices make care and

treatment out of reach.

 

The epidemic is doubly cruel to women and children, who are continuously blamed,

stigmatised and discriminated. Women affected/infected by HIV are particularly

vulnerable to stigma, to mental and physical violence, loss of property and loss

of livelihood. Many positive women are thrown out of their houses and have no

where to go. The affected and infected children bear the brunt of stigma,

resulting in their rejection and isolation, not only from educational

institutions, but also from other areas, like playgrounds and hospitals. Young

girls are more vulnerable to HIV infection due to forced sex work.

 

 

3. WHEN/ WHERE:

 

5-6 April 2009, Tirumala Tirupati Kalyan Mandap, Jaydev Vihar, Bhubaneswar

 

4. WHO:

 

Shradhha, one of the largest coalition of positive women from Orissa, will make

the call at their first annual convention in Bhubaneswar during 5-6 April 2009

with the support of ActionAid, Solidarity Forums, Positive Networks and Civil

Society Organisation in Orissa. Around 300 women members from different positive

networks of Orissa will be participating in the conclave.

 

As already stated the campaign will continue till the Global AIDS  Week of

Action (GAWA) and will also be linked with national forums to mobilise

solidarity and support for the passage of HIV AIDS Bill, which has been lying

with Ministry of Law since July 2008. Hence efforts will be made to solicit the

participation of positive women leaders from other states of the country who

will in future carry the campaign forward at the national level

 

5. HOW

 

5,1 Day 1: Issue-Based/ Thematic Discourse and Preparation of Charter of Demands

 

Around 300 positive women will congregate in Bhubaneswar on 5 April 2009, where

the participants will, in small groups, deliberate on various issues affecting

specific sections like i) women living with HIV and AIDS, ii) children affected/

infected by HIV and AIDS, iii) commercial sex workers, iv) injecting drug users,

v) men having sex with men, and vi) sexual minorities. Apart from this the

participants will also deliberate on overarching issues of i) health care, ii)

stigma, iii) livelihood, iv) entitlements, v) need of sexuality education and

vi) HIV AIDS Bill.

 

Local HIV activists will facilitate the group deliberations, the findings of

which will be presented in a plenary where the final charter of demands will be

agreed upon at the close of the day.

 

5.2 Day 2: Sharing of Testimonies and Charter of Demands with Political Parties

and Media

The second day will begin with the presentation of individual testimonies

relating to the above-mentioned issues. Following this the community

representatives will share their final charter of demands with the various

political parties. Attempts will be made to draw representation from all

political parties entering the election fray.

The second day will also witness an interface between the positive community and

the representatives of local/ national media, where the positive women leaders

will make an attempt to sensitise the media to the issues and concerns of people

living with HIV and AIDS. The women members will also share their set of demands

with the Political Parties and media.

 

6. WHAT OUTCOME?

 

While the overall goal is to mainstream the issues of PLHIVs in the larger

political discourse at the state and national level, the specific objectives of

the conclave will be to draw the attention of the political parties/ leaders to

the various rights and issues of the PLHIVs and vulnerable community members;

help generate the necessary political will to mainstream HIV prevention, care

and support programmes in different departments;

kick start a national campaign for the passage of HIV AIDS Bill which will

continue till the till the Global Week of Action against AIDS.

Create pressure on the political parties to mainstream the long-neglected issues

of children infected and affected by HIV

Strengthen the state level women’s platform “SHRADHA Network†and

facilitate to make it a membership based organization which will continue to

work for the rights of women living with HIV and AIDS and orphan and vulnerable

children;

 

With warm regards,

 

Positive Networks and Solidarity Forums

HIV/AIDS Team, ActionAid Orissa.

e-mail: <shashikanta.Mallick@...>