Bridging the Gap: Conference Record [Abstract book, International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1998: Geneva, Switzerland)]

966 Abstracts 44142-44147

12th World AIDS Conference

44142 Into the void
Russell Kerhoven1, Mark Heywood2, H. Jackson3, B. Mutsakani3. 117 Beveridge
Road-PO Box A509-Avondale-Harare; 3Safaids, Hare, Zimbabwe; 2 Centre for
Applied Legal Studies (CALS), Johannesburg South, Africa
Issues: The extent of the differences amongst the member states of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in policy and legal responses to
the improvement of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS constitutes a void in our
knowledge and this prevents joint action and advocacy. Currently interest and
advocacy organisations focus on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, gender, human rights and legal aspects or on human sexuality, but seldom do they move
beyond their standard operational mould. The development of an appropriate
legal and human rights framework and policy that addresses the epidemiological, cultural and socio-economic determinants and impact of HIV/AIDS/STDs is
only possible if organisations bridge the gaps between them and agree on joint
strategies.
Project: As the spread of HIV/AIDS/STDs in southern Africa is predominantly
fuelled by sexual transmission it is becoming increasingly clear that issues of
reproductive health, gender and human sexuality are closely linked. In most
countries NGOs and other civil society organisations have played an active and
often pioneering role in the development of effective responses in these linked
'sectors' and issues. Essential information on approaches, current issues, key
organisations and capacity is not readily available. This needs to be collected and
analysed in order to move towards a regional policy framework that focusses on
sexual equality to all and avoids discrimination of people on the basis of the HIV
status, gender or sexual preference.
Results: Research tools for the development of country profiles and comparisons will be presented as well as the preliminary results of the first phase of data
collection from a limited number of SADC member states. Details of a five-stage
project will be discussed.
Conclusion: Steps towards the planning and formulation of a comprehensive
policy and legal framework at national and SADC regional level that addresses the
determinants and impact of HIV/AIDS/STDs epidemic is required and possible if
an involving (network) process is followed. Differences and comparisons of issues
and responses between SADC member states will be presented.
44143 Children confronting HIV/AIDS: The convergence of
rights and prevention and care needs
Sofia Gruskin, D. Tarantola. Harvard School of Public Health FXB Center 654
Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
Objectives: To develop an agenda for governmental action on HIV/AIDS in
children which respects, protects, and fulfills the rights of the child.
Method: As the pandemic pursues its course, its impact on the lives of children
is increasingly being felt. Infected by HIV, affected by the impact of the HIV
epidemics, and vulnerable to acquiring HIV infection, infants, young children,
adolescent girls and boys are confronting new challenges to their health and
development. In 1990, the first human rights document to focus specifically on
the rights of children - the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) -came
into being. States are responsible for not violating rights directly as well as for
ensuring the conditions which enable us to realize our rights as fully as possible.
This is understood as an obligation on the part of governments to respect, protect
and fulfill rights. While these principles are applicable to governmental obligations
as they relate to every right, every person - adult or child - and every action
taken, this analysis uses these obligations to consider the rights of the child as
they apply to governmental action that may concern children infected, affected
or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. This research charts the determinants of risk and
vulnerability of the child to HIV/AIDS and their relationships to specific articles of
the CRC within an international human rights framework.
Results: An agenda for governmental action can be created by recognizing
the convergence of the three situations in which children are confronting a world
with AIDS (children infected, affected and vulnerable) and the three levels of government obligations which exist for every right (respect, protect and fulfill). This
analysis sheds new light on government responsibility for ensuring that children
no longer be the objects of decisions affecting them, but subjects taking part in
these decisions as their capacity evolves.
Conclusion: This approach incorporates the promotion and the protection of
rights of the child into the diversity of responses needed to bring the pandemic
under control and mitigate its impact.
|44144 Creation of programmes of action and promotion in
human rights and AIDS
Edgar Caprasco. A V. Roumulo Gallegos Edificio Maracay Apto. 21 El Marques
1071 Caracas, Venezuela
Issue: In Venezuela, there is still a narrow criteria prevailing with respect to the
AIDS problem, reducing it to a mere question of health or charity programmes.
Project: Our aim is to obtain a better understanding of the epidemic, with

emphasis to Human Rights' aspects, by promoting prevention campaigns which
vinculate them to Human Rights issues; skills building, exchange of information
between private and public sector; and through creation of legal assistance
programmes.
Result: The utmost results would be: Reducing discrimination; improve the
quality of life of PWA and vulnerable groups; free the provention campaigns from
prejudice and stigma; and involve all societal structures by means of the universal

lenguage of Human Rights for better comprehension of the epidemic as a social
and public health phenomenae.
Lesson Learned: Human Rights Programmes have proved to be effective to
obtain visuality of PWA and vulnerable groups, who consequently will no longer
be mere study objects, but convert into actors responsable for their and the
communities behavioural changes.
1534*/ 44145 Developing the human rights program for the AIDS
prevention council in Jalisco, Mexico
Armando J. Diaz Camarena1, Jesus Martinez Serna2, Juana Martinez Lopez2,
Ancira Duehas Martinez2, Carmen Cardona Aldrete2, Patricia Campos Lopez2.
1Calpulalpan 96, 44100 Guadalajara JAL; 2Coesida Jalisco, Guadalajara JA,
Mexico
Issue: The prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the Jalisco State, Mexico,
requires strengthen the actions in Human Rights.
Project: From March to June of 1997, through a baseline survey were identified
negative attitudes and low level of knowledge about the Human Rights of the
people who lives with HIV/AIDS, in a sample of the personnel who works in the
governmental and non governmental organizations with work in AIDS. In july,
1997 the AIDS Prevention Council implemented three strategies of intervention:
1) Education, 2) Defense and 3) Network Strategy.
Results: On Education, were designed and validated several printed material (pamphlets and posters) these have been distributed among personnel who
works on AIDS and in 15 rural and urban communities from Jalisco; through
sensitizing workshops, we had worked with 300 individuals. Defense: 100 cases
of violation of Human Rights received couselling, of them 21% presented lawsuit,
12% obtained favorable resolution, 4% lawsuit doesn't proceed, and 5% left the
process. In addition, afterwards the analysis of the cases and legislation, we
have done proposals to reform the laws. Network Strategy: The strengthen of the
coordination with the local organizations for the canalization of cases.
Lesson Learned: 1. Is necesary to continue the education and sensitizing
about the Human Rights of the peopple who live with HIV/AIDS to the personnel
involved in AIDS work. 2. Likewise generate empowerment in the people afected
for AIDS, including their family and friends. 3. Is important the promotion and
exchange of experiences with organizations of human rights to learn together.
404*/44146 Human rights advocacy: Ensuring HIV/AIDS
prevention among transvestite sex workers and
other gay men in Guatemala
Ruben Mayorga. Section 1832 PO Box 02 - 5339 Miami, Fla. 33102 - 5339, USA
Issue: Men who have sex wih men (MSM) in social gatherings places and
transvestite sex workers (TSW) in downtown Guatemala City are populations
that are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Prevention efforts with these "core
populations" are a priority and a difficult task due to their precarious human rights
conditions; these are seldom respected. In late 1997, three of them were killed
under mysterious circumstances. All of a sudden, HIV/AIDS prevention became
very difficult and human rights issues a definite priority among them.
Project: Since December 1996, OASIS has carried out informal education
among MSM and TSW in downtown Guatemala City. Since the reported killings,
these populations were scared away from the streets and prevention efforts
were hampered. OASIS carried out a series of human rights awareness activities
among this group. Later, an advocacy workshop was carried out in collaboration
with a specialized institution. A human rights proposal was then drafted.
Results: Between fifteen and twenty participants attented the different awareness activities and advocacy workshop. Many of the participants became aware
of their human rights, others reaffirmed that notion. The advocacy workshop
resulted in the ellaboration of a work plan, including more human rights educational activities in the more general gay community and in a human rights project
including a diagnosis of the situation, the registration and notification of human
rights abuses among this population, creation of coalitions, and proposals for a
specific legislation. With this urgent issue taken care of, HIV/AIDS prevention
became again possible among these hard-to-reach populations.
Lessons learned: HIV/AIDS prevention programs among MSM and TSW
have to take into account other relevant issues for these populations. Prevention
work is impossible in populations whoa are being actively prosecuted. Human
rights advocacy for these populations is an integral part of HIV/AIDS prevention
and should be included in activities with particularly marginalized and sitmatized
communities.
|44147 Child rights and HIV/AIDS
Romano Esguerra, I.F.F. Fonacier-Fellizar. 118-5 21st Avenue, Cubao, Quezon
City; 2Children's Laboratory Inc Quezon City, Philippines
Issue: HIV/AIDS poses another challenge to Child Rights Promotion, Invocation
and Protection

Project: In the Philippines, various difficult situations resulting to continuing
abuse have put children and youth into increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. To
this effect, an experimental intervention with HIV/AIDS Prevention in mind was
initiated to address this prevailing scenario of children and youth. Implemented
by children and youth with children and youth in the different parts of the country,
the project includes, building capabilities of a core of volunteer children and youth
in educating, facilitating and advocating with peers on HIV/AIDS and the their