June 2014
NewsNews

 

Africa and the Middle East

 

Asia and the Pacific

 

Europe and Eurasia

RUSSIA -- Critics Continue to Attack Hypocrisy over HIV/AIDS

 

Latin America and the Caribbean
CUBA -- HIV/AIDS Highlights Gender Inequalities

 

North America

 

Global
AdvocateAdvocate Focus

Julio Langa

Co-Founder and National

Coordinator, HOPEM

 

"As a human being, I have a responsibility toward others, especially women. I want to make my contribution, especially to the women in my life---my sisters, my nieces, my friends, and their future daughters---and I don't want them to have the same challenges women in my country currently face. I want them to have equal opportunities and to realize their own potential and to explore it." --Julio Langa

 

Julio Langa is the co-founder and national coordinator of HOPEM (Men for Change Network) in Mozambique. HOPEM is a coalition of 25 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and activists that works to affirm the human rights of Mozambican men, women, and children. It works in the areas of masculinity and gender to change behaviors, reduce discrimination, and promote gender equality in Mozambique. The HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor spoke with Julio about his work and passion for gender equality.   



PolicyPolicy Analysis

Revitalizing the Fight against Homophobia

Richard Downie, Center for Strategic International Studies

 

http://csis.org/publication/revitalizing-fight-against-homophobia-africa 

 

This study examines the recent increase in anti-homosexuality legislation in many African states and how these policies affect U.S. development programming, diplomatic ties, and recognized global human rights norms. The author provides recommendations for U.S. decision makers on how to maintain relations with governments that oppose homosexuality while working to promote and advance human rights for gender and sexual minorities.

A Simple Theory, and a Proposal, on H.I.V. in Africa

New York Times

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/health/a-simple-theory-and-a-proposal-on-hiv-in-africa.html?_r=0

 

Mass treatment of schistosomiasis could be used as a cost-effective method in comprehensive HIV prevention, according to a recent article from the New York Times. However, despite strong evidence that women with the parasitic infection were three times more likely to contract HIV, 92% of schistosomiasis patients were untreated, as recently as 2008. Although the infection can be easily controlled with medication, restrictive patent laws have kept affordable generics drugs out of the market.

 

ResourcesNew Resources: Models, Tools, and Research 

HIV and Human Rights: Good Practice Guide

International HIV/AIDS Alliance and ARASA AIDS Rights Alliance

 

http://www.aidsalliance.org/includes/Publication/Alliance_GPG_HIV_and_human_rights.pdf  

 

The Good Practice Guide: HIV and Human Rights provides practical tools for promoting human rights among key populations in the response to HIV. This accessible and user-friendly guide outlines what human rights-based HIV programming is, why it is important, and a variety of ways organizations can integrate human rights into their HIV programming. It also provides examples of how organizations can use existing skills, resources, and networks to implement HIV-related health services.

New Research in Eastern and Southern Africa Shows High-Quality Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Can Be Implemented Effectively and At Scale

Health Policy Project

 

http://www.healthpolicyproject.com/index.cfm?id=VMMCPlos  

 

New PEPFAR-funded research conducted earlier this year, led by the USAID- and PEPFAR-funded Health Policy Project, found that the benefits of scaling up voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in Eastern and Southern Africa, especially among younger populations, far outweigh the programmatic costs. VMMC in the region is currently in the "scale-up phase," and the expansion of existing programs could result in immense health savings for countries in the region.

 

AdvocacyAdvocacy

Bitter Injustice: Ugandan Nurse Imprisoned

AIDS Free World

 

http://www.aidsfreeworld.org/Newsroom/Press-Releases/2014/May-20-Namubiru-Statement.aspx  

 

The highly publicized trial of an HIV-positive Ugandan nurse, Rosemary Namubiru, has raised concerns among HIV advocacy groups about increased stigma and discrimination against HIV-positive individuals. Media outlets dubbed Namubiru, who was accused of reusing a needle on a patient after it pricked her, the "killer nurse" and portrayed her as deliberately infecting patients with vials of her own blood. Advocates believe that this coverage may have contributed to the guilty verdict and her three-year sentence for "negligence likely to cause transmission of a dangerous disease."

Addressing Professor Brendan Bain

Nationwide Newsnet

 

https://soundcloud.com/nationwide-newsnet/addressing-prof-brendan-bain-may20-2014�  

 

In an interview on May 20, Dr. Carolyn Gomes, Executive Director of Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, explained why organizations working to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the Caribbean supported the dismissal of Prof. Brendan Bain from his post as head of the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training (CHART) Initiative. Bain was dismissed after he gave expert testimony in which he stated that the decriminalization of anal intercourse among consenting adults would constitute a risk to public health. Dr. Gomez called these remarks a conflict of interest with his responsibility as CHART head to reduce stigma and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities.

InterviewInterview with Julio Langa
HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: Tell us about your organization.

 

We are a network of 25 NGOs and human rights defenders with a focus in five areas: sexual and reproductive health (SRH), gender equality advocacy, gender-based violence (GBV), organizational development, and peace building.

 

Under these pillars, we implement several programs. We train journalists and media personnel on SRH, gender equality, and GBV, as well as engage artists and athletes who influence public opinion within their communities and the country as a whole. We also have a weekly broadcast on national television called "Homem Que � Homem" (Real Man) which promotes new masculinity norms.

 

Another of our activities to promote education and awareness is "Men in the Kitchen," a television program in which we encourage men, particularly young men, to participate more actively in maintaining the household. This is also a way to challenge constructions (or concepts) of masculinity and femininity and change power relationships within the home. The issues that the program addresses have been previously identified in focus group sessions, where men expressed that they felt they did not have opportunities to take action to support women and girls. "Men in the Kitchen" is an opportunity for them to develop their own skills and assume household responsibilities.

 

HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: Why did you get involved in this work?

 

I am involved in this work because I want to make my contribution to the world. As a human being, I have a responsibility toward others, especially women. I want to make my contribution, especially to the women in my life-my sisters, my nieces, my friends, and all their future daughters-and I don't want them to have the same challenges women in my country face. I want them to have equal opportunities and to realize their own potential and explore it as

they wish and deserve.

HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: Why is male engagement important in preventing gender-based violence?

 

No one was born violent. People learn to be violent and people can unlearn this behavior. I think community mobilization, advocacy, and informational workshops are important to give men and boys an opportunity to realize they can be a man without using violence. It is important to make them aware of men's role in preventing gender-based violence and encourage them to stake a claim in fighting against GBV. In addition, dominant masculinity norms harm not only women's but also men's health, because they lead men to engage in risky behaviors such as having multiple sexual partners, and heavy alcohol and drug consumption.

 

HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: What are some of the political or social issues that affect gender-based violence in Mozambique?

 

Male involvement in preventing GBV needs to be more widely addressed. We have national legislation against domestic violence but we do not have a clear vision of how to change perceptions of masculinity. Recognition of the importance of male engagement by the government and donors is a necessary step in eliminating GBV. Despite significant work by civil society to address male engagement, there are still large gaps in the national policy which must be addressed to provide a comprehensive approach to GBV issues.

 

In addition to policy gaps, there are many challenges related to culture and education. Existing traditions give men a certain level of privilege, and men are resistant to changing these traditions. Many people don't see the benefits of gender equality or that gender equality and nonviolence can improve the lives of women, children, and men. This is one of HOPEM's main efforts: helping men and boys understand how important gender equality is to them and what kind of benefits they can receive from gender equality. Societal norms for masculinity put men and boys at risk of contracting HIV by taking multiple sexual partners. With greater gender equality, men and boys don't need to live with this risk.

 

More information on Julio Langa's work can be found here:

 

http://www.hopem.org.mz/ (In Portuguese)

http://redehopem-twitter.com

http://www.facebook.com.com/rede.hopem

http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2013/7/men-in-the-kitchen/ 

 

 

The USAID- and PEPFAR-funded Health Policy Project's HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor is a monthly newsletter focusing on the advancement, development and analysis of policies, advocacy campaigns and organizations, and policy-related data to inform the response to HIV and AIDS at the global, national, and local levels. It includes news items, resources, advocacy reports, and innovative policy analyses on a wide range of topics such as treatment, key populations issues, gender, and financing for HIV policies and programs.

 

If you would like to suggest an item for inclusion in the next issue, please send it to: [email protected].

 


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About the Health Policy Project   
The Health Policy Project is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-10-00067, beginning September 30, 2010. The project's HIV-related activities are supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It is implemented by Futures Group, in collaboration with CEDPA (part of Plan International USA), Futures Institute, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO), Population Reference Bureau (PRB), RTI International, and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA).