Manohar Elavarthi elected as vice-chair person of CCM

[Guest guest]

Sangama, Defending the human rights of sexual minorities and sex workers. Press

Release

Sangama and Karnataka Sex Workers Union congratulated Elavarthi Manohar on his

return from Delhi after attending the first CCM (Country Coordinating Mechanism)

meeting after getting unanimously elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the India

CCM of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria

Sangama founder Elavarthi Manohar, was nominated by Suraksha, an organization

working for the rights, health and livelihood issues of sex workers, sexual

minorities, people living with HIV, rural and urban poor in Karnataka.

``As a committed human rights activist who made major contribution to the

struggles of sexual minorities, he raises hopes of people infected and most

affected by HIV-AIDS. This is the highest post that any member of the civil

society is holding in the present CCM.

This post is a significant and critical, and demonstrates that it is possible

for even people with integrity to occupy these positions.

This is a window of opportunity to engage with policy making and funding at the

highest level,'' felt Shubha Chacko, Secretary, Sangama.

``We are proud that Manohar is the vice-chair and we are sure he will bring a

commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accountability to the global fund

processes in India. The voices of civil society and infected/affected

communities within the CCM will now be heard and the concerns of these groups

will be brought to the CCM.

He is a staunch advocate of universal access to health and healthcare,'' said

Gurukiran, Director, Sadhane, a community organization of Positive sexual

minorities and Sex Workers.

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is one of the most

important and substantive source of funding to address the HIV pandemic, TB and

Malaria. The Global Fund till date has committed more than 1.1billion USD (or

above Rs. 5000 crore) to India.

It arose as a response to the gaps that are present in the other existing HIV

funding. This fund was formed in a rather unique manner by a coming together of

funders, governments, corporates, NGOs and other organizations.

Each country that is part of the Global Fund constitutes a committee known as

the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM). This is the central body which

receives all the proposals from the country and collates them into one broad

proposal. It is this proposal that is then submitted to the Global Fund. CCM

also oversees the proper implementation of projects funded by the global fund.

The CCM is an interesting and bold experiment - to open up the funding process,

to facilitate the funding of innovative ideas and needs that are not addressed

by other funding. It is a multiple stakeholder forum and works on the principle

of consensus.

There are eight seats for the representatives of the eight sectors covered by

Global Fund to allow greater participation of civil society. One of these seats

is reserved for those working with sexual minorities. Organisations working on

particular issues vote for their representative in that sector to be elected and

be a part of CCM.

``For Karnataka Sex Workers Union Sangama is always like a mother and Manohar

always fought for the rights of sex workers and sexual minorities for the past

17 years. He founded and nurtures Sangama, and is the force behind the sex

workers union.

He has built democratic and transparent mass-based community organisations that

advance the varied interests of these marginalised communities,'' said Geetha,

President, Karnataka Sex Workers Union.

``Manohar designed and led many campaigns to change laws that discriminate

against sexual minorities and sex workers, including Section 377 of IPC and the

Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA),'' she added.

He had put in his candidature through Suraksha, an organisation working for the

rights of sexual minorities. Though initially there seemed to have been attempts

to scuttle the election process and his candidature was arbitrarily invalidated;

through active mobilization not only was his candidature accepted but he won

with an overwhelming majority.

This victory was seen as a backing of not just a personality, but of certain

ideas and values. Ideas of greater transparency and participation and

facilitates issues of diverse populations to be voiced and respected at the CCM

forum.

For details contact

Shubha Chacko, Sangama

9243 446105 9243 446105 at or

, CFAR, 98455 69496 98455 69496

--

" Sangama "

Plot No. 41, KEB Extension Road

RMV 2nd Stage, Ashwathnagar

1st Cross, Bangalore – 560 094.

Phone No - 08023416940 08023416940

www.sangama.org

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