The Health Financing and Budget Planning Meeting was organized by the India Working Group for Health Advocacy (IWG) in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada on 13th February 2020 […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogPeople who use drugs ≠ “addicts”. Stop the labelling.
asaxenaNovember 1st is International Drug Users Day, we stand in solidarity with millions of people using drugs who live their daily lives in harsh, extremely risky environments accentuated by the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogProject PANKH- Addressing gender based violence among Women Who Use Drugs (WWUDs) in India
asaxenaThe Global Research Institute, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan organised the WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals for Safety) Conference on 5th June, 2017 at Hotel Plaza in Bishkek. The conference focussed at demonstrating […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogHarassment in the heart of the city
asaxenaMy name is Prince, and I am a 24 year old guy working in a senior position with a leading multinational company in Delhi. I love to live my life […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog, UncategorizedDreams do come true!
James RobertsonScared and troubled over my health, I would take ten to twelve pills a day. Those were the old days of desolation, circa 2006, when I had just learnt that […]Read More
Advocacy, Media, Press ReleaseWe Count – Standing up for those that matter
asaxenaNew Delhi- “It’s time for each of us to step up for human rights. There is no action that is too small: wherever you are, you can make a difference. […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogSupport rights-centric programs for drug use: Vienna Commission on Narcotic Drugs
asaxenaAlliance India’s G. Charanjit Sharma was selected to represent India as a civil society speaker at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on the world drug problem, which took place […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAn Avoidable Tragedy: Ending Overdose Deaths
asaxenaThe Delhi Police van took the defendants back to Tihar Prison after their hearing. Ramesh (name changed to protect identity) was happy at the thought that he would soon be […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogNew Chief Executive Chosen for Alliance India
asaxenaIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance’s Board of Directors has selected Sonal Mehta as the organisation’s next Chief Executive, succeeding James Robertson who has served in the role since 2010. With almost three […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAct Against Homophobia and Transphobia!
asaxenaMay 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and the theme for 2016 is “Mental Health & Wellbeing.” As I hear this theme, I am reminded of a […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogUNGASS 2016: ‘Harm reduction saved my life’
asaxenaThe following remarks were presented on April 21st in plenary at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs in New York. Namaste! My name is Charanjit Sharma and […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogUnfinished Business for Transgenders in India
asaxenaToday, it is two years since the historic Supreme Court of India NALSA judgment, which acknowledged transgenders and Hijras of India as Third Gender, thus giving legal recognition to this […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFind TB. Treat TB. Together We Can End TB.
asaxenaOne in three people worldwide are infected with tuberculosis (TB). The risks of HIV-TB co-infection among PLHIV dramatically increases as dormant TB infection turns active and becomes life-threatening. Extra-pulmonary TB […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogTB-HIV Collaboration in India
asaxenaTB-HIV Collaboration in India India is extremely vulnerable to tuberculosis (TB), as out of the 2.1 million people living with HIV, 110,000 are co-infected with TB (Global Tuberculosis Report 2015, […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogRainbows of Hope for India’s PLHIV
asaxena“I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known.” As I listen to these lyrics by the American rock band Green Day, I reflect on the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogDignity and Respect: Realizing the Rights of Sex Workers
asaxenaAs the world marks International Sex Workers’ Rights Day on March 3rd, I wonder how India with its norms of patriarchy and caste-based hierarchy will realize the rights of women […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogInvisible and Vulnerable: Girls Living with HIV
asaxena“Hi, I am Tara. I wanted to go to college but was forced into marriage when I was barely 17 years old. After marriage, I contracted HIV from my husband. […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAn Equal Society: Going Beyond Transgender and Hijra Welfare
asaxenaIs equality an illusion? This question troubles me from time to time. I never quite find the answer. The 2014 judgement by India’s Supreme Court that recognized and protected the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogA star crossed relationship : Contraceptives and women in India
asaxenaAccess to contraception is every woman’s right, but if you ask a woman in India about her experience buying contraceptives, she will probably let you know how harrowing it was! […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog“Miniscule” but Powerful!
asaxenaThe LGBT rights movement in the country has nearly come to a standstill. The heart-breaking decision by the Supreme Court in 2013 setting aside the High Court’s judgement that decriminalized […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogDispersing the fog of discrimination
asaxenaYou may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will be as one – John Lennon A dream […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFor the people, of the people, by the people: Toward self-managed treatment for PWUD
asaxenaToday, thousands of people who use drugs (PWUD) in India benefit from harm reduction services. There are over 150 NGO-operated Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centres in the country. In addition, […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWe Live on a Rainbow: IDAHOT 2015
James Robertson“None of us should face discrimination based on what we are or whom we love.” — Max Baucus, US Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, 2014 Since the Indian […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogToo Miniscule for Human Rights and Basic Dignity?
Sreekumar V“…a miniscule fraction of the country’s population constitute lesbians, gays, bisexuals or transgenders…” From the Supreme Court of India’s ruling in December 2013 upholding Section 377 of Indian Penal Code […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogGone with the Wind: A Year of Rights for Transgenders
Sreekumar VOn April 15th 2014, India witnessed a historic victory for the Third Gender movement. The Supreme Court of India recognized transgenders as the “Third Gender” and protected our rights. The […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogTreat Me with Respect!
Sreekumar VAn HIV-positive MSM commented during a Pehchan-supported study on discrimination and stigma in healthcare settings: “I went to a government hospital. The doctor did not treat me well when he […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogThe Visibility of Who We Are
Sreekumar VWe have all read that we need to treat transgenders like everyone else…but do you? Every day transgenders and hijras are heckled, cornered, disowned by their families and thrown out […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogChoti Si Asha: A Little Hope
Sreekumar VThe HIV-positive mother of a newborn passes the first six months of her baby’s life in painful hope. Every moment she frets: is my baby positive or negative? The situation […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogIn My Veins
Sreekumar VDuring my visit to child care homes in Andhra Pradesh in 2014, I met several children who were orphaned or had lost one parent. Almost all of them were living […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogRoobina’s Republic
amritaIn the bitter cold of January 20th, Roobina, a young woman, was forced to deliver her baby on a pavement in Bhopal because she was not able to pay the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAn Extended Family for PLHIV: Vihaan Care & Support Centres
amritaDuring a recent regional review meeting, the Vihaan team caught up with Prashant Malaiya, Deputy Director Madhya Pradesh State AIDS Control Society to learn more about his perspective on the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogBeyond the Worries: Vihaan’s PLHIV Support Groups
amritaPeople living with HIV (PLHIV) often find themselves facing questions they can’t answer. Many of them are reluctant to raise their concerns with family and friends. Take the case of […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogSex Workers’ Rights Must Be Upheld: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
Bini PhilipsIn India, an estimated four million female sex workers support around 12 million dependent family members on their earnings from sex work. And every one of these women is a […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogI’m a Gay Man, and I am Not a Criminal
Bini PhilipsYou don’t always have to commit a crime to be treated as a criminal in India; sometimes just being yourself will suffice. When two cops saw me all alone in […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFirst Anniversary of India’s Gay Sex Ban: LGBT community gathers to protest human rights violations
Bini PhilipsThe Supreme Court of India recriminalised same-sex sexual behaviour on 11 December 2013. The consequences of this judgment have been multiple and far-reaching. Over the past year, this ruling has […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogIt’s not about us and them – If it affects a few, it affects us all
Bini PhilipsIt was an eventful Sunday evening. I had just returned from the Pride walk in Delhi. The colours and slogans of the day were still fresh in my head when […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogDo People Living with HIV Count?
Bini PhilipsI have frequently heard about antiretroviral drug stock-outs from my friends and colleagues over the past three years, but then I faced one myself. Two months back, my doctor prescribed […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogDoes My Community Count?
Bini PhilipsAs I stood on the podium at Indraprastha University in New Delhi, I was expected to tell my personal story as a hijra who is also a successful professional. Since […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogHarsh drug laws undermine India’s HIV response
Bini PhilipsA national consultation was held on 18th November 2014 in New Delhi to discuss the emerging challenges faced by India’s drug-using communities. Harsh laws, policies and practices that punish drug users […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogInternational Transgender Remembrance Day 2014
Bini Philips2014 has been a milestone year for transgenders in India. Earlier this year, the third gender was given legal recognition by the Supreme Court of India, an action that inspired discussions […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogSpeaking Out for Sexual Health
amritaAccess to antiretroviral treatment (ART) has helped enable people living with HIV (PLHIV) to live longer, fulfilling lives. Improved health and wellbeing has allowed PLHIV to plan for their futures, […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogEnd the War on Drug Users
amritaNovember 1st has been observed as International Drug Users Day since 1995. Globally, there is a growing movement by activists and policy experts calling for de-criminalisation of drug users. India […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogTruth Prevails: Satyamev Jayate and Me
Bini PhilipsIn a country where most people can’t cope with ‘anomalies’ in sexual and gender identities, Satyamev Jayate has made visible the hidden struggle endured by millions of Indians. An open discussion […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogIt’s Time We Talk about LGBT Rights
Bini PhilipsIn India, far too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people live lives of secrecy and shame. Those who reveal their sexual identities or deviate from gender norms face […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogDo I Count?
Bini PhilipsI was born and raised in Kolkata, when it was still called Calcutta, into an educated middle class family. An only child, I was born male. I think I must […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogKeeping up the Momentum on AIDS
amritaThe HIV response in India finds itself at a crossroad – a choice between consolidating gains and frittering them away into a resurgence of the epidemic. The struggle began when […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogDon’t Delay, Test Now!
amritaIt was the summer of 1999. I clearly remember those two nights. Sleepless and anxious, I just prayed that my son did not have HIV. A day earlier I had tested positive, […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogStep Up the Pace Against Section 377 in India
indiaaidsallianceIn December 2013, the Indian Supreme Court upheld Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code recriminalizing homosexuality in the country. The months since the judgement have been a time of […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog“Do we count?” A question for AIDS 2014 and beyond
indiaaidsallianceEvery two years, researchers, implementers, policy makers, and community activists come together at the International AIDS Conference to take stock of the pandemic: Where are we now? Where have we […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAre harm reduction strategies working?
indiaaidsallianceObserved every year on 26th June, International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking remains focused largely on protecting society from the evils of drugs. There is however a burning need to consider […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog36,656,825 and Counting
indiaaidsallianceIn 1983, Larry Kramer wrote an article for the New York Native filled with righteous anger, brilliant insight and, reading it now more than 30 years later, electric prophecy. It […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogKeep the light on HIV: International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2014
indiaaidsallianceAt least 35 million people are estimated to be living with HIV globally, with more than 2.1 million in India alone. Advancements in antiretroviral treatment (ART) have transformed the lives […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogTrans-formation to End Discrimination (#IDAHOT 2014)
indiaaidsallianceMay 17th marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) around the world. I am sitting in my office at Alliance India in New Delhi as I gather my thoughts […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogTowards the Right Side of History
indiaaidsallianceAs a gay rights activist, I am overjoyed by the recent Supreme Court ruling which gives legal protection to the transgender community. Ever since we heard the news, there has […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogBeyond Punishment: A Conversation about the Government of India’s Support for Drug Users
indiaaidsallianceRajesh Nandan Srivastava, India’s Director of Narcotics Control, was in Vienna last month to attend the High-Level Segment of the 57th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog“No doubt, ART is my friend indeed…” A Community Profile to Mark 10 Years of Free ART in India
indiaaidsallianceA member of India’s PLHIV community reflects on ten years of access to free antiretroviral treatment. For Naomi Semy, life almost came to a standstill when she tested positive. “As […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog“ART is my partner for life…” A Community Profile to Mark 10 Years of Free ART in India
indiaaidsallianceA member of India’s PLHIV community reflects on ten years of access to free antiretroviral treatment. Kanjibhai B Gadhia is a content man. A well-settled farmer from Amreli district of […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog“I didn’t choose HIV. HIV chose me…” An Activist’s Reflection on 10 Years of Free ART in India
indiaaidsalliancePre ART: 1986 to 31st March 2004 “You have AIDS,” a counselor said to me in 1997. I don’t remember the exact date, but suddenly everything went blank. The counselor […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogEarly TB testing is vital for an effective AIDS response: Government and civil society come together to reinforce this pledge on World TB Day
indiaaidsallianceWorld TB Day is observed every year on March 24th. To mark this occasion, India HIV/AIDS Alliance today joined the Department of AIDS Control (DAC) and the Central TB Division […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWorld TB Day 2014: New poster campaign to increase awareness among PLHIV of TB co-infection (Hindi version)
indiaaidsallianceMarch 24 is World TB Day. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major concern for people living with HIV (PLHIV) as their impaired immune systems make them particularly vulnerable to the disease. […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWorld TB Day 2014: New poster campaign to increase awareness among PLHIV of TB co-infection (English version)
indiaaidsallianceMarch 24 is World TB Day. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major concern for people living with HIV (PLHIV) as their impaired immune systems make them particularly vulnerable to the disease. […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWorld TB Day 2014: Increasing PLHIV Access to TB Testing and Treatment in India
indiaaidsallianceTuberculosis (TB) is a major concern for people living with HIV (PLHIV) as their impaired immune systems make them particularly vulnerable to the disease. In spite of this, it remains […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog‘207 against 377’: A Step Towards Reclaiming Our Rights
indiaaidsallianceDecember 11th, 2013 was a black day in the history of India’s human rights movement. On this day, the Supreme Court of India set aside the historic judgment of Delhi […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogInternational Women’s Day 2014: Managing Cervical Cancer in Women Living with HIV in India
indiaaidsallianceCervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in India, and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at a higher risk of developing […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogZero Discrimination Day 2014: Ending the epidemic of discrimination against PLHIV in India
indiaaidsallianceMarch 1 is Zero Discrimination Day. HIV-related discrimination continues to plague the lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV). They are treated in dehumanizing ways, face barriers in accessing basic […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogI did the HIV test: June 1994
indiaaidsallianceIt was one of those moments. Alone at home, I looked up the number for a diagnostic lab close by. When I got there, my heart skipped a beat to […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogThe Long Road Ahead
indiaaidsallianceOn 11 December 2013, the streets outside the Supreme Court of India thronged with a dazed crowd, hugging, sobbing and not quite sure what had happened. Inside the hushed courtroom, […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog‘Has anything changed?’ A Decade of International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
indiaaidsallianceThe International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers was created to call attention to violence and other hate crimes committed against sex workers all over the world. Conceptualised by […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogA Dark Day for India
indiaaidsallianceI am crouched over my work desk at the Naz Foundation (India) Trust, combing through another draft of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against Section 377 of the Indian Penal […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogInternational Human Rights Day 2013: Reflections on Rights Situation of PLHIV and Key Populations in India
indiaaidsallianceSince the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, there has been a slow but steady expansion of international agreements that promote and protect the rights […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWorld AIDS Day at 25: The Odds and Evens of a Quarter Century Fight against HIV/AIDS
indiaaidsallianceHIV is not just a medical issue but also a social matter that requires a holistic, community-based response. (Photo by Peter Caton for India HIV/AIDS Alliance) It has been 25 […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogA Long Way to Zero… | World AIDS Day 2013
indiaaidsalliance“Getting to zero” is the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day. It is an ambitious goal, to be sure. Three goals, in fact. Three zeros. Zero new HIV infections. […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAIDS Response at Crossroads: World AIDS Day 2013
indiaaidsallianceThis year’s World AIDS Day will not just be a string of events the world community observes every year on December 1st, reiterating our resolve to combat the pandemic. This […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWhat Difference Does Discrimination Make? Reflections for World AIDS Day 2013
indiaaidsallianceI have just returned from a visit to India to see what is being done in tackling HIV and AIDS. Back at the start of the epidemic in 1986 I […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWrapping Up ICAAP11 (November 22, 2013, Bangkok, Thailand)
indiaaidsallianceToday concludes the 11th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP 11) in Bangkok, Thailand. Alliance India is wrapping up our participation in the meeting with two […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFive Priorities: Alliance India at ICAAP (November 20, 2013, Bangkok, Thailand)
indiaaidsallianceIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance puts particular emphasis on five priority populations: men who have sex with men: transgenders & hijras; sex workers; people who inject drugs; and people living with HIV. […]Read More
Advocacy, Blog“11 for ICAAP 11”: A Selection of Alliance India Posters at ICAAP (November 17-22, 2013, Bangkok, Thailand)
indiaaidsallianceAlliance India is presenting a total of 31 posters at the 11th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP 11) in Bangkok, Thailand, 17-22 November 2013. To […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAlliance India at ICAAP 11 (November 17-22, 2013, Bangkok, Thailand)
indiaaidsallianceIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance is excited to be part of ICAAP 11. You are warmly invited to attend our sessions and learn more about our work in India to improve the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogProtecting Rights to Ensure Health: International Drug Users Day 2013
indiaaidsallianceNovember 1st is International Drug Users Day. Initiated in 1995 by the Dutch drug user organization, Landelijk Steunpunt Druggebruikers (LSD), the day aims to raise awareness and increase action to […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogRenewing Our Commitment to the Global Response to HIV/AIDS
indiaaidsallianceGlobally, the incidence of new HIV infections and the number of AIDS-related deaths are decreasing. According to a recent report by UNAIDS, the annual number of deaths fell from 2.3 […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogMy Trans Reality: An Interview with Tista Das, Founder, SRS Solutions
indiaaidsallianceAn important step in the process of self-affirmation for many transgender people is to adapt their physical appearance to align with their gender identity. Many transgenders face significant challenges in […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogGoing Global: An Indian Transgender at Prague Pride 2013
indiaaidsallianceBig things often come unexpectedly. Last year, I met Lukas Rossalie, a gay photographer and activist from Prague, and shared with him the work we have been doing to support […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogToo Little, Too Late is Not Enough: International Overdose Awareness Day 2013
indiaaidsallianceIn the past few years, a number of famous celebrities including Michael Jackson have died due to fatal drug overdose. The media is quick to target the lifestyles of these […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogMore or Less Equal: Reflections on Freedom
indiaaidsallianceThe Indian Constitution declares that all Indians are granted the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression. On Independence Day, Shaleen Rakesh explores what freedom means for young Indians struggling […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogInternational Youth Day 2013: Putting Youth Living with HIV in the Mix
indiaaidsallianceFifty percent of India’s population is below 25 years of age. As they mature sexually, adolescents—especially those from high-risk groups—face vulnerability to HIV and experience a range of unmet sexual […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogIgnorance is Not Bliss: Why HIV-Hepatitis C Co-infection among People Who Inject Drugs is a Crisis in India
indiaaidsallianceHIV-Hepatitis C co-infection is emerging a complex and urgent problem. Umesh Sharma, executive member of the Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD), has been working for many years […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWorld Hepatitis Day 2013: Making Hepatitis C a Priority
indiaaidsallianceA dear friend of mine was struggling as a single mother, working two jobs and balancing drug use. To make things simpler, she quit the jobs and started working from […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFrom India with Love: Bringing Pehchan to the Trans-Health Conference in Philadelphia, USA
indiaaidsalliance“FINALLY!!!” read the email from Jacsen, coordinator of this year’s Trans-Health Conference in Philadelphia, as he sent my plane tickets on the morning we were scheduled to travel. The ticket had […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogThe Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Do WHO’s New ARV Guidelines Serve the Needs of Key Populations?
indiaaidsallianceOne of the highlights of the recently concluded 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was the launch by World Health Organization (WHO) of new […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAlliance India at IAS 2013 Kuala Lumpur
indiaaidsallianceThe 7th Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention is taking place this week in Kuala Lumpur. India HIV/AIDS Alliance is participating in this year’s meeting, including presenting four posters […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFour Years to a Different Me: Reflections on the Anniversary of the 377 Decision
indiaaidsalliance‘I still cannot forget that moment. Though it happened some four years back, the memories stay with me. I tried every possible way, but it refuses to fade away. I […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogAdvocating for Cervical Cancer Testing for Women Living With HIV: Experiences from the Koshish Programme in India
indiaaidsallianceSexual & reproductive health (SRH) services must respond to the specific needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Unfortunately, this is typically still not the case in India. PLHIV face […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogTransforming Identity: New Pehchan Issue Brief on Gender Transition Services in India
indiaaidsallianceSex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and cross-sex hormonal therapy are two essential health services required for Male-to-Female (MtF) transgender people to help them align their bodies with their gender identity. Available […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogShivananda Khan, OBE (1948-2013)
indiaaidsallianceIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance remembers the life and achievements of Shivananda Khan, one of South Asia’s leading activists who left an indelible mark on the global LGBT rights movement and did […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogSlow but steady: India’s march to equality for sexual minorities
indiaaidsallianceOver the past five years or so, India has witnessed seismic shifts in matters concerning the human rights of sexual minorities. Despite being stymied by right-wing groups cutting across religious […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogInternational Women’s Day 2013: Empowering Women Living with HIV
indiaaidsallianceInternational Women’s Day was first officially observed in 1911 and remains an annual opportunity to call for change and celebrate the many acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFalling Through the Net No More: Community Advocacy Expands Sexual & Reproductive Health Services for PLHIV
indiaaidsallianceSexual & reproductive health (SRH) services must become responsive to the specific needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Unfortunately, this is typically not the case in India. PLHIV face […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFrom Inequality to Inclusion: Recognizing the Vulnerabilities of Sexual Minorities in the Response to the Delhi Gang-Rape
indiaaidsallianceConvened in the aftermath of the horrific gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in New Delhi this past December, a special commission headed by former Chief Justice J.S. Verma […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogFrom Addiction to Action
indiaaidsallianceFrancis Joseph is Programme Officer for Hridaya, our HIV and harm reduction programme in India supported through the five-country Community Action on Harm Reduction (CAHR) programme with funding from the Government of the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogThe Other Epidemic: Gender-based Violence in India
indiaaidsallianceThe world has watched over the past weeks as India has struggled to address the causes and consequences of sexual violence, an all too common part of life in this […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWomen Out Loud: New UNAIDS/UNWomen Publication Cites Our Chanura Kol Project
indiaaidsallianceUNAIDS and UN Women recently released Women Out Loud, a new report on women living with HIV and the key role that they play in ending the epidemic. A UNAIDS feature […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogTheir Voices Count: Stand with PLHIV on Human Rights Day!
indiaaidsallianceEven after more than two decades of a coordinated national response to HIV/AIDS in India, stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) remain commonplace. These forces—and the violence […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogPress Clippings: World AIDS Day All-India Run & Cultural Event Media Coverage (December 2012)
indiaaidsallianceMotivated to raise awareness about HIV, more than a thousand people participated in India HIV/AIDS Alliance‘s World AIDS Day All-India Run & Cultural Event on Sunday, December 2, 2012. The […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogNew Optimism, Old Challenges: Prioritizing High-Risk Groups at the Frontline of AIDS
indiaaidsallianceIn a new opinion piece published December 1st on OneWorld South Asia to commemorate World AIDS Day, Alliance India’s James Robertson argues that while India’s admirable progress in achieving a greater […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogJoin us for the World AIDS Day All-India Run & Cultural Event! (Sunday, 2 December 2012 in New Delhi)
indiaaidsallianceWorld AIDS Day 2012 All-India Run and Cultural Event ***8am-2pm (***PLEASE note EARLIER starting time!) Sunday, 2 December 2012 New Delhi Organized by: India HIV/AIDS Alliance Co-sponsored by: Population Council; Citibank; UNDP; Centre […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogRemembering Sukanya: International Transgender Day of Remembrance 2012
indiaaidsallianceThis Diwali, Aarthi called. I expected her usual warm greetings and was unprepared for her distressed voice. “I wanted to tell you sooner but could not get you on the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogMaking Pehchan: Why the Global Fund Matters for Sexual Minorities
indiaaidsallianceAlliance India’s own Sonal Mehta is now a blogger for The Huffington Post’s “Big Push” campaign, an effort to galvanize increased support for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogWhat India’s Politicians Can Learn from President Obama’s Victory Speech
indiaaidsalliance“I believe we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogConfidentiality: A Health and Human Rights Issue for PLHIV
indiaaidsallianceCommunity action lies at the core of the Koshish project, which advocates for policies to improve the SRH and rights of PLHIV in India, and strives to ensure that PLHIV […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogIn the Midst of Sisters, a New Bud Blossoms
indiaaidsallianceAnouba Mayol means ‘new bud’ in Meitei, the official language of my home state, Manipur. Anouba Mayol is also the name of the support group I belong to. I am […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogSharing Experiences Across Borders: Alliance India Hosts International Horizontal Learning Exchange on MSM and Transgender Programming and Advocacy
indiaaidsallianceLast week, Alliance India hosted a four day information sharing and learning exchange for Alliance partner organisations from Mongolia, Myanmar, Kenya and Indonesia. Comprised of discussions, workshops and visits to […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogCreating Change One Peer Group at a Time
indiaaidsallianceThe Action Project empowers youth by educating them about issues that are important to them and discussing subjects that no one has talked to them about before. In conservative areas […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogListening to the voices of communities to get to the heart of change
indiaaidsallianceThe social challenges in understanding and promoting the sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are numerous. These include the social stigma and discrimination against […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogIncreasing Civil Society Involvement in the Fight Against HIV in China
indiaaidsallianceIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance recently hosted a study tour of the Pehchan project for the China Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control (AIDS Association). This tour came in the […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogIs the Commonwealth ready for an AIDS-free generation?
indiaaidsallianceJ.V.R. Prasada Rao blogs in New Statesman (London) about the importance of law reform in successfully addressing HIV/AIDS and how the Commonwealth can lead by example and take decisive actions […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogMedia Advocacy for addressing MTH issues
indiaaidsallianceAlliance India in Andhra Pradesh conducted a Media Advocacy Meet this week (September 17, 2012) in Hyderabad to discuss the human right issues of men who have sex with men, […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogHow integration responds to the SRHR needs of sex workers
indiaaidsallianceSex workers have the same sexual and reproductive rights as anyone else – such as to choose who to have sex with and to have sexual relations free from violence. […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogEngaging Law Enforcement Authorities for HIV Prevention: Experiences from Avahan in Andhra Pradesh
indiaaidsallianceAs police are the mandated protectors of the civil rights of all the citizens, they need to be aware of, and protect, the rights of sex workers and men who […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogSeparate hospital wards for transgenders soon to be a reality
indiaaidsallianceIn India, there is documented evidence of transgenders and hijras facing repeated stigmatisation and discrimination, in violation of their dignity and basic human rights. Pehchan, as part of the programme’s advocacy […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogHIV/SRHR Integration for MSM and Transgender People
indiaaidsallianceMen who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people have the same sexual and reproductive rights as anyone else – such as to choose who to have sex with […]Read More
Advocacy, BlogCandidly Transgender: Government of India officially recognises third gender
indiaaidsallianceGovernment of India (GoI) has taken a commendable step towards mainstreaming hijras and transgenders by recognising their gharana system. The Election Commission of India has for the first time ‘recognised’ transgenders and […]Read More
