Washington D.C., USA, July 2012 Jeffry P. Acaba Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE), Inc.

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012 I.Background II.Towards the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) III.What have we learned? IV.What’s next?

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012  2010: policy research to review and assess Anti-Vagrancy Act (Art. 202 or Revised Penal Code) and Anti-Trafficking Law (RA 9208) and impact on HIV efforts in Quezon City - with support from Levi Strauss Foundation

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012  Est. Population: 2.8M (2010), constituting 23% of the total population of Metro Manila  Most populated city in the country  Among the highest HIV incidence in National Capital Region  Active Local AIDS Council  Has a City Ordinance on HIV/AIDS (1053) with specific provisions on entertainment establishments

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012  Availability of condoms in entertainment establishments is considered by law enforcers as evidence of prostitution, citing RA 9208  RA 9208 is used by law enforcers against entertainment establishments, particularly when the “women” they arrest “claim” they were trafficked  HIV peer educators and outreach workers among freelance sex workers and MSM are vulnerable to arrests, harassment and extortion under Article 202  Broad language of the law could lead to abuse in its enforcement

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012

 Transgender women can file complaints through women’s desk  The meeting urged a drafting of the Memorandum of Agreement as suggested by the Philippine National Police’s Women’s and Children’s Department

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012  MOA meetings: from five institutions to nine in the second meeting, including the Legal Office and Women’s and Children’s Protection Center of the Philippine National Police

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012

 More police people to talk to, the more they become aware  repetition is the mother of learning and of changing mindsets  Bureaucracy  target position, not person  Civil society not only as catalysts but as conveyors, assistants, and bridges

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012  ACHIEVE engaged with newly-appointed Quezon City Police Director  QC Police District Women’s Desk Chief sits at the Quezon City AIDS Council  Quezon City Legislative Department Health Council head committed to supporting HIV and human rights orientation seminars among frontline police officers in local police stations  ACHIEVE meets with Human Rights Affairs Office of Philippine National Police

Washington D.C., USA, July 2012