Title

Practical training on gender transformative programming

Code

THWS07

Session Type

Workshop

Venue

G104-105

Date Time

Thursday 26 July, 14:30 - 16:00

Co-Facilitators:

Susana Fried, Yale University, United States
Ravi Verma, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), India
Luisa Orza, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, United Kingdom

Level:

Target Audience:

Seating limit:

150

An intention of many programmes is to implement gender-transformative approaches. Their organizers recognize that women and girls are most impacted by HIV and addressing gender inequality, harmful gender norms, and gender-based violence is key to addressing poverty and building resilience. However, they do not know where to start or, if they do, they manage to be gender aware and sensitive, but not transformative.

This session will provide practical guidance on how to integrate gender transformative considerations into HIV programmes. It will use scenarios to highlight the intersecting challenges and barriers women and girls in their diversity face to access HIV prevention, treatment and care and achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights. It will demonstrate how to conduct a gender analysis and utilize findings to strengthen programming, and provide examples of intervention strategies and promising practices.

14:30 THWS0701	Introduction Susana Fried, Yale University, United States

14:45 THWS0702	Good practices to gain a better understanding on what we mean by gender transformation and how to move forward towards gender transformative programming in HIV and TB work Luisa Orza, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, United Kingdom Ravi Verma, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), India

15:15 THWS0703	Plenary discussion with reflections from participants

15:45 THWS0704	Closing remarks Susana Fried, Yale University, United States

AUTHOR

Resty Nalwanga

SUMMARY

Women and girls are highly impacted by HIV. Addressing gender inequality, harmful gender norms, and gender-based violence are key to addressing poverty and building resilience. However, they do not know where to start or, if they do, they manage to be gender aware and sensitive, but not transformative.

HIGHLIGHTS

Group discussions on gender-transformative programming, i.e. programming to address gaps in gender inequality, revealed that their programs development should address the core issues and dynamic. Women should be empowered--but also men-- to speak out their issues affecting their rights and need safe spaces for women. Practical scenarios highlighted the intersecting challenges and barriers women and girls in their diversity face to access HIV services and achieve their SRHR. For example, a girl who sells sex to support her family is worried of taking HIV-test due to stigma. The suggested strategies were: decriminalize sex work in laws, focus on economic skills, peer-to-peer interventions. Training addressed how to conduct a gender analysis and utilize findings to strengthen programming, and provide examples of intervention strategies and promising practices. “Transformation comes when the discussions about needs move to the discussions of rights” (Susana Fried, U.S.).

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

The session was interactive engaging participants into group discussions and highlighting on how men and boys should be involved in gender transformative programming. “Men and boys should acknowledge the privilege of maculinity and recognize nonphysical forms of violence” (Ravi Verma, India) Transformative programming should understand key issues faced by people and how to address them. Women and girls should openly share the issues so that others – including males -- can be support. In my conclusion gender transformative programming should include all people without discrimination of their sexuality.