SASOD launches project to provide free legal aid to vulnerable personsPersons being targeted include lesbians, gays, transgenders, and sex workers.
The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) congratulates the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) on the launch of a 12-month project to provide legal assistance to a range of vulnerable persons.
For a full description of the initiative click here.
Head of SASOD, Joel Simpson said the Community Paralegal Services Initiative targets lesbians, gays, transgenders, and sex workers. He said officials would be fanning out to entertainment spots, bars and clubs where sex workers frequent as well as communities to educate persons about their rights and redress services that are available.
The organisation will also provide legal aid for victims of intimate partner violence, juvenile delinquents, parties in family disputes, drug users and orphans.
SASOD Board Secretary, Attorney-at-Law, Mishka Puran said currently five Guyanese lawyers are providing free legal services.
Puran, who is the Guyana focal point and member of the Caribbean Lawyers for Social Justice, urged other interested lawyers to join the network. To read a full transcript of Mishka Puran’s remarks click here.
The efforts are part of the work of the University of the West Indies-based Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Initiative.
To read remarks by Devanand Milton, President of Guyana Trans United (GTU), click here.
WHAT IS PANCAP?
PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organisations, regional institutions and organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, and coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilise resources and build the capacity of partners.
What are the Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026 targets and commitments?
If targets and commitments in the strategy are achieved:
- The number of people who newly acquire HIV will decrease from 1.7 million in 2019 to less than 370 000 by 2025
- The number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses will decrease from 690 000 in 2019 to less than 250 000 in 2025.
- The goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children will see the number of new HIV infections drop from 150,000 in 2019 to less than 22,000 in 2025.
What are the 95-95-95 Targets for ending AIDS?
- 95% of People Living with HIV know their HIV status;
- 95% of people who know their status on treatment; and
- 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026, End Inequalities, End AIDS
https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/global-aids-strategy-2021-2026-end-inequalities-end-aids/
Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) 2019-2025
https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/caribbean-regional-strategic-framework-2019-2025/