MALAWI HIV/AIDS TB, HUMAN RIGHTS COUNTRY PROGRAM PROGRESS SYNOPSIS FOR YEAR 2013

Outline Background Advocacy Capacity building Awareness building Sustainability measures Success keys Challenges

BACKGROUND Project Goal: The overall goal of the Malawi HIV/AIDS, TB and Human Rights Advocacy and Capacity Building country programme is to ensure improved human rights by advocating for the review and reform of discriminatory laws and policies which increase vulnerability of PLHIV and Sexual Minorities by promoting equal access to health services in Malawi Project objectives: To strengthen and support the capacity of civil society organizations to effectively promote and advocate for improved health care services in Malawi To advocate for the review and reform of discriminatory laws in Malawi To reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIV and Sexual minorities in the context of HIV/AIDS and TB in Malawi Implemented through a consortium of 4 institutions -19 districts & supported by an advisory committee

LEGAL & POLICY, BEHAVIOURAL ADVOCACY 1.Litigation: Supporting Amicus Curiae on punitive laws(CHRR & CEDEP have joined) -Helping in consolidating substantive matters & analyzing risks 2. Rationalizing the draft HIV & AIDS Management bill and the National AIDS Policy through a Memorandum of demand (35 CSOs) 3. Political Party Engagement: MOU with parties

Legal & Policy Advocacy conti… Formulation of Stigma and Discrimination guidelines Central Medical Stores woes & access to essential drugs (monthly drug monitoring exercise) Media engagement: Establishment of a vibrant Media Task Force on minority rights & Editors Forum on human rights Position paper to the president on sexual minority rights and the legal environment

Advocacy conti… Engagement of the academia (MOU signed with the Faculty of Law) vis-à-vis Moot trials & Public Debates National Budget analysis and provide recommendations to the budget committee of parliament to focus on real and not nominal increments to HIV and TB funding and DNHA Parliamentary engagement

Capacity Building Built capacity of 20 CHAs and 20 CBOs (tretmt lit. & advocacy) that are championing grassroots initiatives. CHAs have reached out to over 9,000 pple & CBOs over 12,000 Built capacity of parliamentary committees on health and legal affairs, Commissioners of Police & Prisons Built the capacity of CSOs & CBOs to demand accountability from the ministry of health and Central Medical stores on stock outs (budget summaries & translation )

Capacity Building conti… Built Capacity of Media Advocates on Documentation of violations and abuses through Martus platform

Awareness Raising Establishment of a media editors forum & Media Task Force on Minority Rights has ensured an ongoing profiling of minority rights issues Contribution to the CHRR & CEDEP media column on sexual minorities Moot Trial Competitions at school of law Radio & TV Debates, Community radio sessions, quarterly news letters

Sustainability Measures Mainstreaming interventions into institutional initiatives-e.g. CHRR has a human rights case documentation platform that is being utilised by the program, CHRR’s Social accountability program, CEDEP’s peer education program, COWHLAs community treatment literacy program, LADDER Community outreach program Donor interest in particular interventions Utilizing the Advisory Committee

Success Keys Coalition building among CSOs and other stakeholders (program has built a shared understanding among 35 institutions and bought support from the OPC (DNHA). Program has also built a cadre of religious & traditional leaders that are championing advocacy Mainstreaming program interventions into organizational and national initiatives Understanding the cultural and social context in advocacy

Challenges Cultural, Religious and Social Resistance Demand is greater than the supply in terms of service provision

“Better is not good enough, the best is yet to come!!!” Prophet T.B. Joshua