|
|
Print Article 
Lobbying and Advocacy – International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights
The project focused specifically on civil society. Participating organisations raised several issues and concerns, including that civil society lack an in-depth understanding of the International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights and the ability to effectively engage with particular Guidelines from a sector/ issue specific perspective. Civil society further identified a need to assess and analyse South Africa’s responses to the International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights by means of legislative and policy measures and finally, to identify mechanisms for enhancement of access to, and realisation of, legislation and policies pertaining to the protection of rights of people living with, and affected by, HIV and AIDS. These concerns were articulated as specifically urgent with regard to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups, such as women, children, sex workers, prisoners and refugees.
In March 2004, a 2-day Summit on the International Guidelines was organised and facilitated by the ALN. The June 2004 Edition of the ALQ introduces various issues pertaining to the Guidelines.
The ALN has since produced a training manual for trainers on Guideline 8 of the International Guidelines which focuses specifically on creating a supportive and enabling environment for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
We also developed and facilitated 1-day workshops in two provinces, namely KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo, pertaining to women, children and other vulnerable groups.
To obtain more information on the Guideline 8 workshops, please contact the ALN office
Training Manual – HIV/AIDS & Human Rights
The manual includes four modules pertaining to defining and understanding core concepts, to the meaning and implication of Guideline 8, to South Africa’s response to the principles outlined in Guideline 8 and to practical advocacy steps aimed at enhancing the access to, and implementation of, legislative and policy measures. While these modules are prepared to be facilitated concurrently, it is also possible to utilise any one of the modules as a stand alone module for an education and training session. Thus, the manual provides as much a resource for human rights education and training on the Guideline 8, as it allows for sessions that specifically deal with one of the issues, such as gender and gender legislation, the legislative and policy framework as it pertains to HIV and AIDS realities and challenges, as well as meaning and practical steps of advocacy.
For more information and/or to obtain a copy, please contact the ALN office
News – Provincial Meetings
The meetings aimed at:
- identifying the realities, as well as causes of stigma and discrimination
- discussing and analysing the extent to which fundamental rights and freedoms are implemented and applied in the context of HIV and AIDS
- collectively identifying potential advocacy and lobbying strategies to address and respond to prevailing stigma and discrimination
For more information on stigma and discrimination in the context of HIV and AIDS contact us and/or obtain a copy of the June 2005 Edition of the ALQ.
Public Debate – Youth: Blamed and Vulnerable
The debate took place on 15 June 2005 and aimed at providing a platform to discuss the extent and determining factors of young people’s (15 – 24 years) greater vulnerability to HIV infections. The debate raised various questions, including why, and caused by whose lack of responsibility,young people are vulnerable and at risk; what role can/should educators, counsellors and the faith play in addressing the situation; what mechanisms are available to address and respond to; and how effective are they.
Presentations were made by:
- Western Cape Education Department, Lynn Herman – discussing the role of education and educators in addressing young people’s vulnerability to HIV
- Western Cape Provincial South African Council of Churches, David Nikani – examining the faith-based response to young people’s vulnerability
- Leadership South, Juliana Grodes – sharing experiences of young people’s vulnerability from an HIV counsellor’s perspective
- Wesley Deelman – sharing experiences from a young person’s perspective
- AIDS Legal Network, Johanna Kehler/Naseema Meeran – introducing a human rights-based response to young people’s vulnerability.
For more information and/or to obtain a copy, please contact the ALN office
Public Debate – Feminisation of HIV and AIDS
The debate took place on 3 August 2005 and aimed at providing a platform for discussion and debate on issues of women’s and girl children’s increased, continued and disproportional vulnerability to HIV infection and affection within a constitutional framework based on principles of equality, human dignity and freedom.
Presentations were made by:
- Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women, Lungiswa Memela – introducing a sector-specific response to the feminisation of the pandemic
- Independent Researcher, Lene Øverland – examining the role of the media in creating, as well as perpetuating, women’s greater vulnerability
- National Institute of Community Development and Management, Linda Baleni – sharing experiences of women’s vulnerability from a woman’s perspective
- Treatment Action Campaign, Vuyiseka Dubula – assessing challenges of women’s access to treatment
- AIDS Legal Network, Johanna Kehler – exploring a human rights-based response to the feminisation of HIV and AIDS
For more information and/or to obtain a copy, please contact the ALN office
|
