Title

Community system strengthening = Sustainable HIV response

Code

THAD03

Session Type

Oral Abstract Session Track D – Social and political research, law, policy and human rights

Venue

Hall 10

Date Time

Thursday 26 July, 14:30 - 16:00

Co-Chairs:

Ivan Varentsov, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association, Lithuania
Simran Shaikh, India HIV AIDS Alliance, India

14:30 THAD0301	Community monitoring in HIV prevention programs with sex workers in Kyrgyzstan Svetlana Radchenko, Tais Plus, Kyrgyzstan	Abstract Slides

14:45 THAD0302	When situations go from bad to worse: Strengthening collective action during periods of crisis through concrete guidance and principles for engagement Robyn Dayton, FHI 360, United States	Abstract Slides

15:00 THAD0303	Monitoring and evaluating technical assistance to key populations and HIV projects in Russia: Removing legal barriers and community systems strengthening Richard Elliott, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Canada	Abstract Slides

15:15 THAD0304	The Caribbean civil society shared incident database: A monitoring and reporting mechanism to strengthen community activism to address human rights violations Marlon Thompson, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, Jamaica	Abstract Slides

15:30 THAD0305	Strengthening HIV-related community organizations: Evidence from a large-scale program in India Madhusudana Battala, Population Council, India	Abstract Slides

15:45 THAD0308LB	Let’s Stick Together: community empowerment approach significantly impacts multiple HIV and sexual and reproductive health outcomes among female sex workers in Tanzania Deanna Kerrigan, American University, United States	Abstract Slides

AUTHOR

Felicita Hikuam

SUMMARY

Resilience of community systems is important now more than ever given the rampant human rights violations against key populations and the need for greater preparedness to respond collectively in a more effective manner during times of human rights crises such as a crackdown on key populations by governments.

HIGHLIGHTS

Community systems strengthening includes strengthening the ability of NGOs and key populations groups to implement human rights programmes; deliver HIV services in line with human rights standards and the ability monitor and evaluate them. Research from Ukraine, Russia, India, Tanzania and several countries in the Caribbean proved that community systems strengthening is most effective when those affected are involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of human rights programming and efforts to scale up and deliver HIV services in line with human rights standards. Community systems strengthening should include community empowerment efforts shaped by the realities and needs of key populations; skills to document human rights violations and tools to challenge discrimination and remove legal barriers for HIV services. It should also include coordinated support to community groups to respond when backlash from governments deteriorates in criminalised environments, thus threatening the provision of services being provided to key populations.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

Community Systems Strengthing efforts should include assistance to help key populations document rights violations, navigate complex legal environments to address discrimination and human rights violations and prepare effectively to respond during times of crisis. Communities should be supported to organise themselves in a structure that helps them identify their own needs and effective ways to respond based on their resilience and knowledge of their environment. “Context maters for community empowerment. What is possible in one community at one time, may differ in another due to cultural, political or other factors.” Dr. Deanna Kerrigan, American University.