Press Release – Page 8

Belize Parliamentarians Sensitization Forum

Wednesday, 21 November 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation will host a Parliamentarians Sensitisation Forum in Belize on 22 November 2018.

The Forum is part of a series of engagements involving parliamentarians under the PANCAP Justice for All programme. Parliamentarians will be sensitized with regard to their advocacy role for the elimination of stigma and discrimination, as well as their legislative, representational and oversight roles.

The objectives of the forum are to identify the barriers to achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets including stigma and discrimination and defining parliamentarians’ legislative, representational and oversight roles in addressing the barriers to ending the AIDS epidemic. Parliamentarians are expected to agree on specific actions to be undertaken.

In an invited comment, Hon. Laura Tucker-Longsworth MSN. RN. OBE. – Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairperson, National AIDS Commission (Belize) said, “There must be increased engagement with parliamentarians on Health, social protection, Justice and tackling stigma and discrimination. Parliamentarians have the mandate to play a more meaningful role in advocating and championing for supportive policies, laws and budgetary allocations in an effort to end AIDS by 2030”.

– ENDS –

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 which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

Under the 10th (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, PANCAP will strengthen coordination on human rights issues in keeping with the Justice For all Roadmap through the HIV and AIDS Thematic Task Force in CARIFORUM.

CARIFORUM

CARIFORUM refers to the Grouping of Caribbean States which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The ACP grouping is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

CARIFORUM is the recipient of and manages the implementation of Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes financed by the EDF and Caribbean regional programmes financed by individual Member States of the European Union. It also provides technical assistance to agencies/institutions implementing projects under these programmes.

European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders’.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

The PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Programme was established in September 2013 as a regional response to the UN High-Level Political Declaration (June 2011) designed to reduce AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. The objectives of the JFA programme are:

Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls and adolescents
Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age appropriate sexual education
Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

Helpful links:

PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme – https://pancap.org/what-we-do/justice-for-all/

10th European Development Fund Project (EDF) – https://pancap.org/pancap-work/10th-european-development-fund-project/

Legal protection and social acceptance should be accorded to the LGBT community

By Pat Dyal

In Guyana and Western societies as a whole, little serious and constructive attention had been paid to those persons of different sexual orientation until much after World War II. Such persons were never mentioned or discussed in polite society or conversation. The celebrated case of Oscar Wilde, the great writer, was well-known.

Most persons felt, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, that the justification for his imprisonment for homosexuality could not be disputed though it was deeply regretted that the career of one of the most brilliant writers in the English Language and one who could have contributed even more to world literature should have been destroyed by his imprisonment.

Though there was apparent calm on the homosexual question, there always existed a deep underground of violence, harassment and vicious persecution of homosexuals which, from time to time, come into the open.

After World War II, sociologists, medical doctors, scientists, human rights activists and persons of compassion began to speak out about the plight of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons (LGBT). Vast numbers of people all over the western world began to feel the guilt of being complicit in the violent persecution, human rights violations, terrorization and generally unacceptable barbarism which were being imposed on a number of innocent fellow-citizens and which they discovered for the first time.

Accordingly, in several developed countries, the laws affecting LGBT people were reformed and they were given protection and rights they had never enjoyed before. This trend is gradually beginning to affect the developing countries, several of which are now mooting legislative reform.

In Guyana, the Human Rights Institute issued a Report on LGBT persons which gave instances of cruel and horrific violence meted out to such persons. These range from murder to being shunned and disowned by one’s family.

Despite the exposure of the wrongs and injustices which LGBT persons suffer, there is still a strong body of persons who genuinely believe that these people are cursed by God and that their sufferings are divinely ordained for their alleged wickedness. They strongly believe that extending tolerance to LGBT persons will destroy society, and they often quote the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah to support their belief.

This harsh attitude towards LGBT persons has its roots in the Semitic faiths. In East Asian faiths such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Hinduism, LGBT persons are never a special issue and coexist with all others without any special attention being paid to them.

In the Indian sub-continent, for example, LGBT persons are quietly given a special place in society. One of the common names by which such groups are known is ‘Hijerin’, a term which is descriptive rather than pejorative.

The Hijerin are fully accepted in certain professions as singers and dancers though, no one is perturbed if Hijerin people are engaged in other employment. The Hijerin are almost regarded as a third sex. There is no negative or repulsive profiling of such groups in Asian societies unlike in western societies.

The tolerance and indeed acceptance which Asian societies accorded to LGBT persons over centuries has not led to the collapse of such societies nor has the wrath of God been especially inflicted on them. Indeed, over the last generation, Asian countries such as India and China have been growing in wealth, power and cohesion.

African societies which are still affiliated to their own ancient indigenous religions, and which have not been influenced by the Semitic faiths of Christianity and Islam, tend to be tolerant of LGBT persons and accord them acceptance. There is no LGBT issue.

Asian countries, though they accord social acceptance to LGBT persons, have been gradually adopting Western legislation thus strengthening the protection of this group. India, for instance, through its Supreme Court, has recently made same-sex marriages legal.

Though the focus of progressive Western governments is to establish and extend legal protection, social acceptance is very uneven and needs to be cultivated. This could be approached through the education system where the myths relating to LGBT persons are exposed and the rational and scientific reasons for the existence of the LGBT orientation are taught. If some religious leaders are brought on board, it could help to quicken social acceptance. In Guyana, the movement towards social acceptance and full legal protection is now irreversible and we need to work single-pointedly towards the achievement of a more humane society.

Regional Meeting on Ending AIDS in the Caribbean: Expanding Equitable, Effective, Innovative and Sustainable HIV Responses towards the 2020 Fast Track Targets on the way to Elimination held in Kingston, Jamaica – 1 November 2018

Thursday, 1 November 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) hosted the Regional meeting on Ending AIDS in the Caribbean: expanding equitable, effective, innovative and sustainable HIV responses towards the 2020 Fast Track targets on the way to elimination in Kingston, Jamaica on 1 and 2 November 2018.

The purpose of the meeting is to sensitize Caribbean stakeholders on policy approaches that are required to reduce health inequalities. The meeting encompasses the creation of a set of concrete actions to implement the Call To Action that emanated from the Third Latin America and Caribbean Forum on HIV and Sustainability (10 November 2017) for inclusion in the post 2018 Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF). These actions will support expanding equitable access to health and social services while strengthening health system responses to HIV and its sustainability.

Mr. Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP welcomed participants and shared the expectations of the meeting. In her opening remarks, Sannia Sutherland, Programme Coordinator, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) highlighted that civil society groups have been increasingly advocating for mechanisms to address issues that affect key populations and increased accountability.

She stated, “We have been working assiduously to promote the legal empowerment of key populations (KPs) to improve access to health and justice and reduce human rights violations with a view to promoting an enabling environment as we join fast-track efforts”.

Ms. Sutherland underscored that throughout the Caribbean, Community-based organizations (CBOs) and the communities they work in are key players in the delivery of health services, as they have unique advantages in advocacy, demand creation and linkage of communities to services, building an understanding of what treatment, prevention, care and support are, and keeping governments, and donors accountable. However, they often deliver services without stable and predictable funding or systemic linkages to formal public health facilities.

She further stated that building effective responses to priority health challenges with Key Populations, particularly in the face of the 90-90-90 commitments is a key priority for all civil society groups that work in the trenches contributing to the HIV response in the region.

She noted that current actions by stakeholders to end AIDS included strengthening linkages throughout the Treatment Cascade, improving linkages to reach Key Populations, defining further and implementing task shifting and task sharing policies, considering the added value of CBO Interventions at each step in the Treatment Cascade and reaching underserved Youth.

“A range of human rights violations impact key populations”, stated Ms. Sutherland, “Multiple reports have documented how states have failed to protect key populations, from violence and other human rights violations, undermining their own HIV prevention efforts”.

She emphasized that despite the interventions, stigma and discrimination in health services is widespread, limiting key populations’ access to services. “Weak justice systems and a limited culture of rights litigation result in impunity. More generally, the application of laws and policies allow the use of arbitrary interpretations of laws to affect operational policies, which in turn limit access to services”, stated Ms. Sutherland.

Dr. James Guwani, Team Leader and Senior Advisor, Fast Track, The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Caribbean Sub-Regional Office underscored that the Regional Meeting on Ending AIDS falls at the halfway point to 2020. “That’s a deadline the global community agreed upon for meeting targets that will set us on a course to end the AIDS epidemic”, stated Dr. Guwani. He congratulated PANCAP Director, Dereck Springer, as well as PAHO for their leadership in sharing the vision of a region without AIDS. He noted that their commitment to exploring the scientific as well as social dimensions of the challenge is invaluable, particularly now that the 2020 Fast Track target is approaching.

He further stated that through the 2016 Political Declaration on ending AIDS, the community of nations has agreed to adopt a Fast-Track strategy that involves increasing prevention, testing, and treatment services while working to eliminate stigma and discrimination. He emphasized that central to this goal are the 90-90-90 Treatment Targets.

“Here in the Caribbean, the AIDS response is at a precarious point”, stated Dr. Guwani, “There has been partial success in saving lives and stopping new HIV infections, but the pace of progress is not matching the global ambition. According to new data published earlier this year in the UNAIDS 2018 Global AIDS Update, there were an estimated 310,000 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Caribbean at the end of 2017”.

He informed that 73% of PLHIV in the region were aware of their status while 79% of diagnosed people were on treatment. Dr. Guwani expressed his concern that the region lags behind the world in terms of viral suppression rates. “Our 70% in 2017 compares to a global average of 81%” he emphasized.

He further stated that to reach the targets that will set the Caribbean on track to end AIDS, the region must close the gaps in testing and treatment. “The gap to achieving the testing target – 90% of all people living with HIV diagnosed – was 54, 800 people in 2017,” stated Dr. Guwani, “The gap to achieving the second target – 90% of diagnosed people on treatment – was 74,700 people. And the gap to achieving the third target – 90% of people on treatment virally suppressed – was 103,000 people”.

He urged that the Caribbean must increase its use of proven strategies such as community-led services for early diagnosis, enrolment in treatment, retention in care and treatment adherence. Dr. Guwani advocated that combination prevention must be a priority, with more countries making use of the full arsenal at our disposal to reduce new infections including biomedical, behavioral and structural interventions.

“Make no mistake: stigma and discrimination and restrictive laws and policies continue to be the biggest obstacle to ending AIDS in the Caribbean, particularly for young people and members of key population communities,” stated Dr. Guwani, “And so the Justice for All meeting hosted here in Kingston over the last couple of days presented a critical opportunity for further collaboration between governments, civil society and the faith community towards building an enabling environment”.

He emphasized that addressing all these issues requires financial investments and alluded to the fact that the Caribbean AIDS response is experiencing a funding crisis. Dr. Guwani shared that between 2006 and 2017 international resources in the region decreased by 16%. In 2017, just under half of the money needed to finance the achievement of the Fast Track programme in the region was not available.

He advocated that even as stakeholders negotiate with international partners, a message must be sent to governments within the region that there must be full funding for the AIDS response.

In her keynote address, Dr. Bernadette Theodore-Gandi, PAHO/WHO Representative to Jamaica, Bermuda and The Cayman Islands stated that she was optimistic that HIV and AIDS will not be epidemics much longer, and at that time, the region will be proud to be part of initiatives like the Regional Meeting, being supportive players in the response.

She highlighted that the UNAIDS Global AIDS Monitoring database shows that the Caribbean region has seen a 18% reduction in new infections of HIV and 23% reduction in the number of AIDS-related deaths this year.

“Once, thought to be too ambitious, the Caribbean region now leads the world in the elimination of Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV and syphilis”, stated Dr. Theodore-Gandi, “Currently, 7 out of the 11 countries were validated globally for EMTCT, and 7 out of the 8 countries achieving dual elimination of HIV and syphilis are from the Caribbean. These are inspiring steps toward ending the epidemic”.

She advocated that winning the fight against AIDS, however, requires an appreciation of the factors outside of health that also drive the epidemic. She stated that “the Sustainable Development Goal 3, ‘good health and well-being’ aims to ‘ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. It includes the target 3.3, which specifically states that by 2030, [we will] end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria…’ But meeting the targets of the other 17 SDGs will also contribute significantly to ending AIDS, as they too provide guidance that supports health and well-being in a holistic way”.

Dr. Theodore-Gandi highlighted that by ending poverty and hunger, SDGs 1 and 2, the region will be supporting PLHIV and their families with the capacity to better manage their lives and adhere to treatment. She emphasized that by supporting high-quality education for all, SDG 4, the region will be supporting educational models where boys and girls are empowered with the information necessary to prevent diseases and STIs like HIV, thereby improving health and health equity.

“And of course, SDG 5 – gender equality; the fight against AIDS will never be won in this region if we fail to address gender inequities, including violence against women and girls,” stated Dr. Theodore-Gandi.

She further stated that if the region is to reduce inequalities, SDG 10, there must be an agreement that the principles of Universal Health also include PLHIV, men who have sex with men, women, and girls, sex workers, persons of transgender experience, persons incarcerated, people living with disabilities and all populations most-at-risk. She advocated that if the region is to address the underlying factors that leave people vulnerable to HIV infection, no person or group should be left behind.

Dr. Theodore-Gandi underscored that ending AIDS in the Caribbean will require addressing these gaps, as well as the challenges that continue to persist in accessing essential HIV services. While some 73% of PLHIV were aware of their HIV status at the end of 2017, only 57% were accessing antiretroviral treatment and 40% were virally suppressed. Men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender persons, and their sexual partners, represent approximately 70% of new cases. In addition, 1 in every 3 new cases occurs in young people 15 to 24 years old.

“Let us be responsive to this evidence before us. The data suggests that more concerted and collective efforts are needed in the treatment and viral suppression areas of our HIV cascade”, stated Dr. Theodore-Gandi “Equitable access, new and innovative approaches, high-impact, evidence-based interventions and appropriate use of technologies, will help contribute to improved efficiency and sustainability in these areas”.

She advocated that an effective HIV response is also a human rights-based response and that to move the region’s HIV response from a phase of plateau to a place of sustained high impact, some countries must accelerate the removal of laws which criminalize PLHIV and key populations. “I encourage all stakeholders of political influence to recognize their role in creating an enabling policy and legal environment which support an effective response to HIV prevention, care and treatment services for all who need them,” stated Dr. Theodore-Gandi.

She warned that the evidence is conclusive that failing to do this sends PLHIV and key communities into hiding and farther away from the services they need to keep them alive. She encouraged the participants to build on their existing work and the rich experiences of all stakeholders, taking into strong account the voices of PLHIV, key communities and civil society working in the trenches.

“Let us be ‘realistically-strategic,’ yet ambitious with our ways forward. Let us identify concrete and measurable actions. Let our decisions foster increased access to health and social services. Let them inspire strengthened engagement of PLHIV, key populations, as well as inter-ministerial involvement in the response. Let us also prioritize the strengthening of integrated and sustainable health systems, which are better equipped to respond to HIV and related health issues across our Caribbean countries and territories, including small island states,” stated Dr. Theodore-Gandi.

She highlighted that with a recognition of the SDGs and a respect for human rights and being guided by countries’ data, she has no doubt that at the end of the Regional Meeting, the Caribbean would have been several steps closer to a rapid expansion of an equitable, effective, innovative and sustainable HIV response toward the 2020 Fast Track Targets and closer to ending AIDS by 2030 and for generations to come.

Ministers of government, parliamentarians, legislators, permanent secretaries, chief medical officers, and national AIDS programme managers from over 16 countries as well as regional and national representatives from civil society, and development partners are participating in the Regional Meeting. The forum will conclude on 2 November 2018 with strategic steps to support expanding equal access to health and social services and strengthening health system responses to HIV and its sustainability.

– ENDS –

Helpful links:

Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS – https://pancap.org/who-we-are/caribbean-regional-strategic-framework/

Haiti Call to Action – https://pancap.org/pancap-releases/new-call-to-action-provides-guidelines-for-achieving-sustainable-hiv-responses-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/

What is PANCAP?

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organizations, regional institutions and organizations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximize efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilizes resources and build capacity of partners.

Minister Of Justice, Jamaica, Reinforces Country’s Commitment to the Protection Of Human Rights at Opening Of EDF – PANCAP Regional Meeting

Tuesday, 30 October 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation commenced the Regional Meeting for Advancing Recommendations for Addressing Gaps in the Human Rights Response under the PANCAP Justice For All Programme in Kingston, Jamaica on 30 October 2018.

In opening remarks, Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska – European Union Representative, explained that the Regional Meeting is part of an EU funded programme of about 400,000 EUR over the period October 2017 to April 2019, which supports advocacy efforts undertaken by the PANCAP, through its “Justice for All Programme”. She highlighted that the objective of the support to PANCAP is to strengthen the coordination on Human Rights issues to reduce HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination through structured and continuous dialogue. “This action is expected to accelerate the human rights agenda across the Wider Caribbean Region, and, more specifically to build upon the work already initiated with several stakeholders, including parliamentarians and faith leaders under the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS and Global Fund support”, stated Ambassador Wasilewska.

She emphasized that the European Union actively promotes and defends human rights both within its borders and when engaging in relations with non-EU countries. In Jamaica, for example, within the last 2 years, the EU Delegation has provided grant contracts valuing over 350,000 EUR to support the work of the “Jamaica AIDS Support for Life” and “Eve for Life”, both of which work with vulnerable populations to provide services that prevent HIV infections and treat with parties who have already contracted HIV.

“Concretely, the EU’s commitment to providing wide range support for work with various vulnerable groups translates into engagement in local, regional and multilateral fora and into financial supports to efforts, for example, by regional organizations to further the human rights and democracy agenda”, stated Ambassador Wasilewska.

The Ambassador stated that the Regional Meeting illustrates the EU’s commitment to support PANCAP’s efforts towards that objective, and which, by the end of the meeting, should translate into the design of a coordinated response tailor-made for the region that provides an effective and durable response to HIV in the Region.

She further stated that the event, which highlighted the results of the study funded through the EU’s support on the human rights status in the region, could not be more timely.

“Indeed, on 10 December 2018, we will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” stated Ambassador Wasilewska, “The respect of human rights is a collective problem, and we need to come together, as you do today, to develop a collective solution. This is even more important at a time when we are witnessing too many occurrences of human rights violations all around the world”.

She further stated it was time for the world to embrace the importance of human rights. “They improve lives for millions of people; they strengthen societies and charter the path for a better collective future for humanity. Acting in their favor is acting for ourselves, for our children and future generations”.

“From a personal perspective, I speak to you today not just as an EU representative but also as a mother. My hope is that my child will live in a world that is free of HIV and in a world where the respect of human rights is not an issue any longer. Looking back at history but also the present, this hope may seem utopic but this is no reason to disengage”, stated the Ambassador.

She urged the participants to allow their discussions and actions to contribute to the achievement of eliminating stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. She emphasized that such an achievement will require a strengthened and collective resolve across all sectors of society, aimed at ensuring that zero stigma and discrimination are part of the equation for zero risk for HIV exposure.

Dr. John Edward Greene, PANCAP Advisor stated that the meeting comes at a time when the world is engaged in advancing the targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – reducing poverty, promoting HIV within the context of integrated health, tackling the challenges of Climate Change and building resilient communities, quality education, gender equality, social justice, among others. He stated that it was most fitting that this meeting is focusing on filling essential gaps in the human rights response as a priority of the PANCAP Justice for All Programme, which parallels the targets in SDG #16.

Dr Greene stated, “This regional meeting is indeed a celebration of the foresight of the EU and of functional cooperation, of which PANCAP is one of the clearest manifestations. But the genesis of the tenth EDF grant that supports this significant regional meeting dates back to 2001 when the EU awarded PANCAP an institutional Strengthening Grant of 10 million Euros which established the PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU) and through the PCU, sustainable support for core PANCAP partners — the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+) — and contributed to the formation of University of the West Indies, Caribbean Health Leadership Institute (CHLI) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) HIV Programme. It is to be noted that the PANCAP Model also extended to the French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCOR) and the UK and Netherlands Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)”.

He explained that by paying attention to institutional strengthening the EU provided PANCAP with the building blocks for establishing a unique regional partnership comprising governments, civil society, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and developing agencies in a governance structure that attracted support from USAID, DFID, Canada, Germany among others and leading the UN to designate PANCAP as an international best practice in 2004.

Dr Greene emphasized that this was well deserved as it was PANCAP with technical support from UNAIDS and PAHO/WHO that created history by negotiating the first ever massive 90% reduction in the price of ARVs from $12,500 to approximately $1,000 per person This agreement was signed in Barcelona in 2002 and by 2004 triggered further price reductions spare-headed by the Clinton Foundation that joined PANCAP.

Dr Greene highlighted that the 10th EDF Wider Caribbean Cooperation Programme was proposed at the Clovis Beauregard Seminar on Regional Cooperation in the Caribbean (November 2005). It was agreed that task forces would be established in the areas of natural disaster management, HIV and AIDS, trade and investment and interconnection. These task forces were established and have had varying levels of success.

He congratulated Dereck Springer, the PANCAP Director, for his “creative leadership in marshaling PANCAP Policy and Strategy Working Group on Stigma and Discrimination (PSWG) to take corrective action by providing oversight for the implementation of the PANCAP Justice for All and Human Rights Roadmap”.

Dr Greene stated that he was enthusiastic about collaborating with the PANCAP Director in implementing The PANCAP JFA Roadmap, which he referred to as a living document that builds on and advances the aforementioned initiatives. He explained that since its inauguration in 2014 it has established national faith leaders and parliamentarians’ networks for sustaining their respective responses. “PANCAP has created a multi-stakeholders framework of faith leaders, parliamentarians, civil society, Youth, Key populations including LGBTI, and has initiated a series of national and regional forums,” stated Dr Greene.

He stated that the meeting continues the vital work of facilitating collaboration between key populations and stakeholders. “This initiative provides parliamentarians with support for their representational, legislative, and oversight roles; Faith leaders networks are being bolstered to advance contributions to ending AIDS and increasingly PLHIV and Key populations are playing a collaborative rather than a combative role in the collective advocacy for the elimination of stigma and discrimination and achieving health for all” highlighted Dr Greene.

He emphasized that this is the impetus on which the 10th EDF aims to build. He explained that the project provides an opportunity for key stakeholders to collaborate and take action to eliminate stigma and discrimination.

He urged the participants to use the meeting to develop a mantra for JFA and key actions that can be implemented to protect human rights and social justice in the region. “Let us move toward celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December by ensuring that this consultation helps this region to make Human Rights for All a reality,” concluded Dr Greene.

Dr Douglas Slater, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat highlighted that advocacy by People Living with and affected by HIV has been critical to the progress made in response to HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. “Advocacy has sparked action in the face of denialism and indifference, mobilized unprecedented financial resources and enabled communities to participate in designing health services that meet their needs,” stated Dr. Slater.

He emphasized that in the future, advocacy remains crucial to driving sufficient resources, addressing the needs of the people most affected, and holding governments and funders accountable for the concrete results that will lead to ending AIDS as a public health threat.

Dr Slater further highlighted that during the latter part of 2017, PANCAP partners developed a Regional Advocacy Strategy and Plan to guide a coordinated approach to advocacy. He stated that “PANCAP is in a unique position to drive a regional approach to advocacy for several reasons: the demonstrated added value of regional public goods and services to support national-level efforts; a track record in developing and rolling out high quality pilot interventions; capacity to mobilize resources in ways unavailable to individual countries; the broad-based nature of the partnership and engagement of stakeholders across sectors; capacity for managing and coordinating multi-country initiatives; and evidence of the willingness of leaders and policymakers to participate in regional efforts that seek to address difficult issues”.

Dr. Slater explained that a regional approach can leverage demonstrated success in individual countries to catalyze efforts throughout the Region, and this is particularly valuable where it is difficult for national governments to address sensitive issues. He also highlighted that PANCAP’S close relationship to the CARICOM Secretariat provides a good vantage point for aligning with other regional strategies and for shared access to technical expertise and capacity building at the institutional as well as at the individual levels.

In his keynote address, Hon. Delroy Chuck, Minister of Justice, Jamaica, stated that the promotion, protection, and enhancement of Human Rights in Jamaica is a primary consideration of the current Government. “To this extent all fundamental rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and they will be upheld” stated Minister Chuck, “However, we must be aware that from time to time there are challenges, even when there are safeguards and this Government will not sit on its laurels and allow these fundamental rights to be breached”.

The Minister emphasized that if these fundamental rights are breached, the law provides for the Office of the Public Defender to take action in a Court of Law.

“At the same time we acknowledge that there are other rights which have been declared in other international arenas such as the European Union, United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to name a few”, stated Minister Chuck, “As is well known, many of these rights are not protected by our Constitution and as such they are controversial within the Jamaica context. This makes the approach in dealing with various human rights issues a difficult one”.

The Minister utilized his keynote address to provide the latest update on what is being done by his Ministry to deal with the issue of human rights, protecting the fundamental rights of all Jamaicans, as well as building upon the work already initiated with various stakeholders.

He stated that the foundation has already been laid for the establishment of a Human Rights Institute. He emphasized that the Charter of Rights, which provides more comprehensive protection for the fundamental rights of Jamaicans, was passed in the Jamaican Parliament.

“The Human Rights Institute will serve to ensure that as we navigate the challenges of our changing society, the rights and freedoms of citizens will always be protected,” stated Minister Chuck.

He further emphasized that “the Jamaican Government will not falter in its commitment to ensuring that the human rights of all Jamaicans are protected. We do so, fully recognizing the besetting challenges due to capacity constraints. For this reason, we continue to attach high importance to the support of our many bilateral and multilateral partners, who have offered technical and other assistance in enhancing national capacities to meet obligations in areas where constraints are often most significant”.

The Regional Meeting will continue tomorrow, 31 October and is expected to result in a number of outcomes which will empower parliamentarians to advocate for the rights of vulnerable populations and to advance the regional human rights agenda within the context of the PANCAP Justice for All Programme with an emphasis on justice systems reform.

– ENDS –

What is PANCAP?

– 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

– CARIFORUM

CARIFORUM refers to the Grouping of Caribbean States, which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The ACP grouping is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

– European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their expertise, resources and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

 Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
 Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
 Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls and adolescents
 Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
 Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

Helpful links:

PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme – https://pancap.org/what-we-do/justice-for-all/

10th European Development Fund Project (EDF) – https://pancap.org/pancap-work/10th-european-development-fund-project/

Event web page – https://pancap.org/pancap-events/joint-regional-meeting-to-facilitate-knowledge-sharing-for-advancing-implementation-of-commitments-made-under-the-justice-for-all-programme/

Suriname Parliamentarians Sensitization Forum

Friday, 19 October 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, will host a Parliamentarians Sensitization Forum in Suriname on the 22 and 23 October 2018.

The Forum is part of a series of engagements involving parliamentarians under the PANCAP Justice for All Programme (JFP). Parliamentarians will be sensitized on issues regarding their advocacy role for the elimination of stigma and discrimination, as well as their legislative, representational and oversight roles.

The objectives of the forum are to identify the barriers to achieving the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 Targets[1] including stigma and discrimination. The Forum will also seek to define parliamentarians’ legislative, representational and oversight roles in addressing the barriers to ending the AIDS epidemic. Participants will also discuss and agree on a timeline for specific actions to be undertaken by parliamentarians.

In an invited comment, H.E. Dr. Jeniffer Geerlings-Simons, Speaker of the National Assembly in Suriname said, “Fundamental rights and liberties for all, Justice and Fairness are common ideals that the people of Suriname strive towards and hold dear. These ideals are underpinned by the values enshrined in our constitution, which include peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and equality. Our nation, therefore, is one where consideration needs to be given to those who are rendered more vulnerable and/or marginalized, which brings us to a specific quest: work together, across sectors, creeds and other seeming differences and unite to realize the commitments we’ve made as a country, as a partnership, as a region, and as a world. 90-90-90 by 2020 and End AIDS by 2030!”

– ENDS –

What is PANCAP?

10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

CARIFORUM

CARIFORUM refers to the Grouping of Caribbean States, which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The ACP grouping is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link their expertise, resources, and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy, and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance, and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls, and adolescents
Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

Helpful links:

PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme – https://pancap.org/what-we-do/justice-for-all/

10th European Development Fund Project (EDF) – https://pancap.org/pancap-work/10th-european-development-fund-project/

[1] What are the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 Targets?

By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.
By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.

Suriname National Faith Leaders Consultation

Thursday 18 October 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, will host the Suriname National Faith Leaders Consultation in Suriname on the 19 and 20 October 2018.

This Consultation is a follow-up to a series of engagements with faith leaders in Suriname under the PANCAP Justice for All programme. It will facilitate the development of an action plan for advancing faith leaders’ implementation of key elements of the Justice for All programme. Participants will include 40 Faith Leaders representing national faith leaders’ networks across Suriname.

The action plan will include the establishment of the main goals for an inter-religious faith leaders network in Suriname with emphasis on contributing toward the end of AIDS. The consultation will also aim to identify the lessons learned for ending AIDS from faith leaders’ engagements with People Living with HIV and with other groups such as parliamentarians, youth leaders, civil society and members of church communities. It will examine the challenges for developing a viable Faith Leaders Network and proposals for overcoming them. Participants will be engaged in making specific recommendations to achieve the goals of the inter-religious/faith leaders network. In addition, the consultation will seek to establish priorities and timelines for achieving the goals of the Network.

In an invited comment, coordinator of the consultation, Rev. Danielle Dokman, Municipality of Pastor Gemeenschap van Hoop Lutheran Church, said, “This meeting would broaden faith leaders’ awareness of the PANCAP Justice for All programme. It will also provide an opportunity for faith leaders to work collectively on addressing the social issues and contribute towards achieving the 90-90-90 Targets and ending AIDS by 2030. We look forward to continued collaboration among faith leaders and key stakeholders in the HIV response both at the national and regional level”.

– ENDS –

What is PANCAP?

10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

CARIFORUM

European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their expertise, resources, and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy, and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance, and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders’.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls, and adolescents
Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

Helpful links:

PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme – https://pancap.org/what-we-do/justice-for-all/

10th European Development Fund Project (EDF) – https://pancap.org/pancap-work/10th-european-development-fund-project/

Regional Meeting for Advancing Recommendations for Addressing Gaps in the Human Rights Response Under the PANCAP Justice For All Programme to be held in Jamaica

Image: Director of PANCAP, Mr. Dereck Springer

Tuesday, 9 October 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation will host the Regional Meeting for Advancing Recommendations for Addressing Gaps in the Human Rights Response under the PANCAP Justice For All Programme in Kingston, Jamaica on 30 and 31 October 2018.

The meeting will be used to disseminate the findings of an assessment of the human rights situation in the Caribbean, including a status update, gaps, and opportunities, as well as bottlenecks with regard to HIV-related stigma and discrimination and the broader issues of human rights affecting key population groups.

The meeting will also be used to validate the findings of the assessment, reach consensus on the key priorities at the regional level, and obtain stakeholders’ commitments for addressing the gaps for achieving justice for all.

Participants include selected policymakers from Ministries of Justice, Parliamentary Committees on Social Protection, Chief Medical Officers, Faith Leaders, Civil Society, People Living with HIV, Key Populations including Men who have sex with men, Sex workers, Transgender representatives, youth, and National AIDS Programme Managers representing Member States.

In an invited comment, Director of PANCAP, Mr. Dereck Springer said that the assessment provides the Region with a comprehensive report on the policy and legislative barriers that need to be overcome if the Caribbean is to achieve the end of AIDS by 2030.

– ENDS –

What is PANCAP?

– 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

– CARIFORUM

CARIFORUM refers to the Grouping of Caribbean States which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The ACP grouping is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

– European Union

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls, and adolescents
Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

PANCAP Director and the Inter Religious Organisation of Guyana (IRO) discuss faith leaders’ role in ending AIDS

Monday 17 September 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): Director of PANCAP, Dereck Springer recently held discussions with the Inter-Religious Organization of Guyana (IRO) on the role of faith leaders in ending AIDS. The Director is advocating for faith leaders to leverage their influence with the communities they serve, youth and vulnerable populations to propagate HIV prevention including testing and other issues related to the achievement of the 90-90-90 Targets and the 2030 goal of ending AIDS.

Present were the Secretary to the IRO, Jennifer Dewar, committee members Pastor Ronald McGarrell of the Family Federation for World Peace and Neil Bacchus of the Muslim Youth League.

The Director explained that PANCAP has been engaging faith leaders since its inception in 2001 in recognition of their reach and influence.

Contributing to the First 90

Referring to the First 90, the Director stated that unlike other sectors, faith leaders have tremendous influence with various ethnicities, religions, and people of all cultural backgrounds. Hence, faith leaders can provide information to large audiences to make informed decisions about knowing their status. He highlighted that this message aligns with the World AIDS Day 2018 theme, “Know your status”, and advised that this would be an ideal opportunity for faith leaders to begin dialogue with their communities on the importance of being tested.

Faith Leaders also critical to the Second 90

“You also have a role to play in relation to the Second 90 in helping people with treatment adherence,” stated the Director. He illustrated that faith leaders can provide information on nutrition and the importance of remaining on treatment. He highlighted that faith leaders are integral to providing PLHIV with counseling and social support as part of the work they do in providing solace and hope.
He also informed the IRO of the seven Caribbean territories and states, that have achieved the dual targets for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis and emphasized that faith leaders have a role in encouraging HIV positive pregnant women to remain on treatment to avoid transmission to their babies.

Third 90: Faith leaders’ integral to public education on viral suppression

“Faith leaders are also critical to the achievement of the Third 90”, stated Mr. Springer, “you have a captive audience that includes PLHIV and through your messages, you can influence them to remain on medication and become virally suppressed”. He explained that faith leaders are critical to providing community-level education on the benefits of PLHIV achieving viral suppression.

Faith leaders can fill the gap left by diminished public education on HIV

The Director further posited that faith leaders could empower their communities with health and family life education especially regarding young people and the issue of sex and sexuality. The PANCAP Director emphasized that in light of reduced public education on HIV prevention, treatment and care, it has become necessary for faith leaders to fill that gap by providing their communities with critical information and guidance on HIV. He urged the IRO to collaborate with PANCAP particularly with regard to reducing stigma and discrimination, which he highlighted as barriers to vulnerable populations accessing HIV prevention and quality health care.

Outcomes and commitments

The IRO committed to discussing the proposed approaches with the wider body. Ms Dewar also proposed utilizing the influence of IRO members on other committees and boards to propagate the messages. She explained that members also serve on such bodies as the National Commission for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and can utilize these platforms for HIV education. The IRO also committed to exploring the idea of a liaison between the two entities who would work with PANCAP on HIV education initiatives.

Mr. Springer stated that he was encouraged by the enthusiastic response of the IRO and committed to providing resources to reinforce HIV education initiatives by faith leaders through the provision of public awareness materials. At the culmination of the meeting, he stated, “I am pleased that the IRO is willing to explore utilizing their influence for HIV prevention. Indeed, the role of faith leaders is not to be underestimated at this critical juncture of the region’s HIV response”. The initiative forms part of a series of regional engagements by PANCAP with faith leaders under the Justice for All (JFA) programme.

What are the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 Targets?

• By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
• By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.
• By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression

World AIDS Day 2018 Theme Announced – “Know Your Status”

Tuesday, 11 September 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The theme for the 2018 observance of World AIDS Day is “Know your status”.

The 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day will be marked on 1 December 2018. Since 1988, the AIDS response has made significant progress and today millions of people living with HIV are leading healthy and productive lives. But we still have miles to go, as the latest UNAIDS report shows, and one of the challenges remaining is knowledge of HIV status.

HIV testing is essential for expanding treatment and achieving the 90-90-90 Targets. It also empowers people to make choices about HIV prevention, so that they can protect themselves and their loved ones.

Many barriers to HIV testing remain and UNAIDS estimates that more than 9.4 million people living with HIV still do not know their status. Stigma and discrimination deter people from taking an HIV test. Access to confidential HIV testing remains an issue of concern. Many people get tested only after becoming ill and symptomatic. This leads to HIV treatment being initiated late, undermining its many benefits for both treatment and prevention. At the same time, there are many new opportunities to expand access to HIV testing. Self-testing, community-based testing services, and multi-disease testing are helping people to know their HIV status.

HIV testing programmes must be expanded. For this, we need political will and investment, as well as novel and innovative approaches to HIV testing that are fully leveraged and taken to scale.

In the coming weeks and months, we will be sharing more campaign ideas and materials via PANCAP.org.

PANCAP anticipates a highly successful World AIDS Day 2018. Join us!

Guyana to host National Faith Leaders Consultation

Tuesday, 7 August 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, will host the Guyana National Faith Leaders Consultation in Georgetown, Guyana on the 9^TH and 10^TH August 2018.

The event will be hosted at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown; highlights will include a feature address by Hon. Dr Karen Cummings, MP, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health.

The consultation is occurring two years ahead of the 2020 deadline for reaching the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 Targets —90% of people living with HIV diagnosed, 90% of diagnosed people on treatment and 90% of those on treatment virally suppressed.

The initiative forms part of a series of engagements with faith leaders in Guyana under the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme. It will encompass the development of an action plan for advancing faith leaders’ implementation of key elements of the Justice for All programme. Participants will include 40 faith leaders from religious networks across Guyana.

The action plan will include the establishment of the main goals for an inter-religious faith leaders network in Guyana with emphasis on ending AIDS. It will also involve the identification of the lessons learned for ending AIDS from faith leaders’ engagements with People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and with other groups such as parliamentarians, youth leaders, civil society and members of church communities.

Participants will also propose solutions for resolving the challenges in developing a viable faith leaders network and will make specific recommendations to achieve the goals of the inter-religious – faith leaders network as well as identifying priorities and timelines for achieving the goals of the network.

In an invited comment, coordinator of the Consultation, Bishop Michael Perreira (Eccles Assembly of God – East Bank Demerara), encouraged faith leaders to partner with stakeholders to find common ground, respect differences, and work towards the establishment of a national faith leaders network.

– ENDS –

What is PANCAP?

10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

CARIFORUM

European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their know-how, resources, and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy, and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance, and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders’.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls, and adolescents
Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

Helpful links:

PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme – https://pancap.org/what-we-do/justice-for-all/

10th European Development Fund Project (EDF) – https://pancap.org/pancap-work/10th-european-development-fund-project/

Focus of the PANCAP consultations – https://pancap.org/what-we-do/faith-leaders/