The Communication Initiative

[Mudassar Shah]

Hi Warren,
 
I contribute very less but at least I contribute....
I fully agree with Shereen Many networks of people living with HIV do not give voice to women within the ranks. Given the "feminisation of the epidemic in SSA" with women bearing the brunt not just in terms of greater numbers of women living with HIV but also in having the bulk of responsibility for caring and support, it is critical that women are central to the development of policy and decision making forums.
I have mentioned the same idea in my first email but unfortunately it is not included or reflect in any way...
I am sorry if this policy is made only for Africa as I see most of this is related to to Africa and most of the examples are from Africa.........
 
I would love to include that the status of women living in my part of the world. I have explained in detai the liv conition in my early email.
 
Hope this time I will be able to get your proper attenion and replay.
 
Regards
Mudassar

 

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[shereenu]

Editors note: This contribution came in during the conference and could not be posted immediately. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Hi Warren

Belated input from me. It may well be too late. As you know, I'm not in Mexico but wanted to contribute briefly to the Draft Policy.

Most importantly well done on a well communicated document on communication. Most of what I would have said, has been said so I'll cut to the chase. Under 4 - the closer you are the louder the voice. It mentions sex workers and also people living with HIV/AIDS as being central to policy making and investment/financial decisions. No question. But equally important are other marginalised groups such as men who have sex with men and also women in general. Many networks of people living with HIV do not give voice to women within the ranks. Given the "feminisation of the epidemic in SSA" with women bearing the brunt not just in terms of greater numbers of women living with HIV but also in having the bulk of responsibility for caring and support, it is critical that women are central to the development of policy and decision making forums.

hope you are all managing to keep sane amidst the mayhem

Shereen


-----Original Message-----
From: Valerie Grossman [mailto:mex17@comminit.com]
Sent: Tue 29/07/2008 06:22
To:
Cc:
Subject: [Mexico XVII] [1] Your Comments on Draft Policy and [2] Mexico Sessions su



This note from VAL GROSSMAN refers to the draft Policy paper derived from the comments in this forum to date. You can see the draft at http://www.comminit.com/en/node/272636
To share your comments on this draft please email

***

Hi Warren,
Regarding #4 of the Draft Policy- If this gets included and serious interest follows, I am interested on behalf of our organization. It is the only way I/we do any of the non-profit initiatives we are asked to help with. The basic understanding here is that those of the culture have the expertise, knowledge, and culturally appropriate ways to resolve their own issues. When the people are given, the opportunity to constructively problem solve, and support with implementation, issue resolution of previously insurmountable problems become possible.
Best regards,
Val Grossman
www.healthreachcanada.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Feek [mailto:mex17@comminit.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:19 AM
To:
Subject: [Mexico XVII] [1] Your Comments on Draft Policy and [2] Mexico
Sessions submissions

Re: [1] Your Comments on the Draft Policy Document - Please Send and [2] Your Mexico Conference Sessions - Please Submit

Many best wishes to everyone and thanks to all for [a] the original suggestions for what this draft policy document should contain [b] the critique of the initial draft and [c] the Mexico Sessions submissions to date. Excellent stuff!

A couple of points and a reminder if I may:

1. A reminder - for all those conducting or participating in sessions at the
Mexico AIDS Conference to please enter the details of that event including
its policy objectives - at http://www.comminit.com/node/add/mexico-communication The sessions already submitted - plus other relevant info can be seen at http://www.comminit.com/node/add/mexico-communication

2. The original policy draft derived from the numerous and substantive
suggestions can be seen at http://www.comminit.com/en/node/272636

Please review and send your critique and if possible specific suggestions by replying to this email or emailing

3. Some of the suggestions already received include [see all the forum
contributions for the full set of inputs]:

***

-[Stress] Mainstreaming Gender and HIV & AIDS Education at all levels and categories of education Institution: Formal &Informal; primary-secondary-tertiary...levels?

- [Higher emphasis on supporting] energising and mobilising discontent and belligerence (against the disadvantage) as the pathway to empowerment

- [Stressing that] HIV Communication can never be effective if it is adressing the issue a single entity and ignoring to empathize with the concerned ones perpectives, their compulsion and degree of freedom to make choices.

- [Requesting] An additional item on Human Rights - suggested text is

8. Base the work on human rights principles Governments of all countries in the world have promised to honor at least one international human rights treaty and the principles of human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, must be the basis on which all HIV/AIDS related work is based.
“Culture� and “social norms� must not be used as an excuse to ignore rights.


Example:

Despite cultural norms that women’s social status depends on their
role as biological mothers, many women do not want to bear large
numbers of children yet they have problems accessing modern
contraceptives, emergency contraception and safe legal abortion.
Other women, affected by beliefs attached to HIV/AIDS, have had
to face stigma and discrimination when they choose to become
pregnant despite a positive HIV-status. This has even led to proposals
to criminalize perinatal HIV transmission.

Specific Policy Proposal:

Ensure that all policies and interventions in the field of HIV/AIDS respect,

promote and fulfill human rights, including sexual and reproductive
rights.

- In Item 5 - Culture Rules - adding "including the use of ICTs and research
on folk communication media is important" within the recommendations

***

Over the next 4 days we all look forward to further critical review of and
substantive proposals for the draft policy document at
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/272636


Over the next week please do share your Mexico AIDS Conference events so
that we can all support each others goals at that important conference -
submit at http://www.comminit.com/node/add/mexico-communication


Thanks and many best wishes - Warren

Site http://www.comminit.com/mexico_aids
Email


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

wfeek@comminit.com
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com


***

To unsubscribe from this forum please reply to this email with "unsubscribe" in the subject line - thank you

[Valerie Grossman]

This note from VAL GROSSMAN refers to the draft Policy paper derived from the comments in this forum to date. You can see the draft at http://www.comminit.com/en/node/272636
To share your comments on this draft please email

***

Hi Warren,
Regarding #4 of the Draft Policy- If this gets included and serious interest
follows, I am interested on behalf of our organization. It is the only way
I/we do any of the non-profit initiatives we are asked to help with. The
basic understanding here is that those of the culture have the expertise,
knowledge, and culturally appropriate ways to resolve their own issues. When
the people are given, the opportunity to constructively problem solve, and
support with implementation, issue resolution of previously insurmountable
problems become possible.
Best regards,
Val Grossman
www.healthreachcanada.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Feek [mailto:mex17@comminit.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:19 AM
To:
Subject: [Mexico XVII] [1] Your Comments on Draft Policy and [2] Mexico
Sessions submissions


To: HIV/AIDS Policy - Communication Perspectives Group
From: Warren Feek - Executive Director - The CI
http://www.comminit.com/mexico_aids
Email

Re: [1] Your Comments on the Draft Policy Document - Please Send and [2]
Your Mexico Conference Sessions - Please Submit

Many best wishes to everyone and thanks to all for [a] the original
suggestions for what this draft policy document should contain [b] the
critique of the initial draft and [c] the Mexico Sessions submissions to
date. Excellent stuff!

A couple of points and a reminder if I may:


1. A reminder - for all those conducting or participating in sessions at the
Mexico AIDS Conference to please enter the details of that event including
its policy objectives - at
http://www.comminit.com/node/add/mexico-communication The sessions already
submitted - plus other relevant info can be seen at
http://www.comminit.com/node/add/mexico-communication


2. The original policy draft derived from the numerous and substantive
suggestions can be seen at http://www.comminit.com/en/node/272636

Please review and send your critique and if possible specific suggestions by
replying to this email or emailing


3. Some of the suggestions already received include [see all the forum
contributions for the full set of inputs]:

***

-[Stress] Mainstreaming Gender and HIV & AIDS Education at all levels and
categories of education Institution: Formal &Informal;
primary-secondary-tertiary...levels?

- [Higher emphasis on supporting] energising and mobilising discontent and
belligerence (against the disadvantage) as the pathway to empowerment

- [Stressing that] HIV Communication can never be effective if it is
adressing the issue a single entity and ignoring to empathize with the
concerned ones perpectives, their compulsion and degree of freedom to make
choices.

- [Requesting] An additional item on Human Rights - suggested text is

8. Base the work on human rights principles Governments of all countries in
the world have promised to honor at least one international human rights
treaty and the principles of human rights, including sexual and reproductive
rights, must be the basis on which all HIV/AIDS related work is based.
“Culture” and “social norms” must not be used as an excuse to ignore rights.


Example:

Despite cultural norms that women’s social status depends on their
role as biological mothers, many women do not want to bear large
numbers of children yet they have problems accessing modern
contraceptives, emergency contraception and safe legal abortion.
Other women, affected by beliefs attached to HIV/AIDS, have had
to face stigma and discrimination when they choose to become
pregnant despite a positive HIV-status. This has even led to proposals
to criminalize perinatal HIV transmission.

Specific Policy Proposal:

Ensure that all policies and interventions in the field of HIV/AIDS respect,

promote and fulfill human rights, including sexual and reproductive
rights.

- In Item 5 - Culture Rules - adding "including the use of ICTs and research
on folk communication media is important" within the recommendations

***

Over the next 4 days we all look forward to further critical review of and
substantive proposals for the draft policy document at
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/272636


Over the next week please do share your Mexico AIDS Conference events so
that we can all support each others goals at that important conference -
submit at http://www.comminit.com/node/add/mexico-communication


Thanks and many best wishes - Warren

Site http://www.comminit.com/mexico_aids
Email


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative


1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com


***

To unsubscribe from this forum please reply to this email with "unsubscribe" in the subject line - thank you