Giving us a global voice Cecilia Chung, USA On behalf of the Key Populations Living with HIV Advisory Group of GNP+

KPLHIV Advisory Group, the Global Network of PLHIV

Engaging key populations living with HIV maybe challenging Currently only 8% of key populations, including those living with HIV, are able to access the prevention, care, treatment and support services they need. While there is an acknowledgement that support for key populations living with HIV should be prioritised, resources and actions do not follow. Key populations living with HIV experience severe stigma and discrimination (both internal, external as well as within key population groups and between different groups, including PLHIV networks). This also impacts how key populations living with HIV are mobilising their communities. Thus, the mobilisation of KPLHIV is country and context-specific. PLHIV networks and HIV advocates are not sensitized toward the needs of key populations living with HIV. For example, – The PLHIV Stigma Index to a limited extent explicitly involve key populations living with HIV. Key Populations living with HIV either not identified at all or not engaged in collecting, analyzing or crafting recommendations. Some countries deliberately omit the terms: “men who have sex with men”, “transgender people”, “sex workers”, “drug users” to avoid “fighting” with the conservative governments Leadership development among KPLHIV is limited and there is no systematic support to ensure sustainability of the initiatives/organisation/movement led by and for KPLHIV.

The values of coming together KPLHIV AG serves as a mechanism to provide peer support and share best practices on addressing stigma and discrimination, community system strengthening, service provision and lessons learned on addressing harmful cultural norms, law and legal challenges KPLHIV AG provides the opportunities to advocate for cross-cutting issues which are of critical importance, galvanising the broader movement of those populations inadequately served KPLHIV AG serves as a platform to hold different stakeholders (i.e. UN agencies, GNP+, positive networks, key population networks) accountable KPLHIV AG supports members to develop their skills in research, community mobilisation and advocacy.

Key considerations for working with diverse KPLHIV communities Consideration for an alternative, non-stigmatizing term for particular constituents (for ex. prisoners: incarcerated people/ people in prisons). Uphold the principles of meaningful participation of KPLHIV in all decision making processes, ensuring that our voices are heard. Explicit use of terms that are more inclusive (for ex. Instead of “gender”, use “sexual orientation and gender identity”) Strong recognition of intersectionality of vulnerabilities (for ex. MSM who inject drug, women who have sex with women and other men, young women who sell sex).

Emerging themes for 2014 priorities derived from the Key Populations Living with HIV Advisory Group of GNP+ Improving access to health and non-health services by working with key stakeholders (i.e. healthcare workers, health planner, doctors – for health services, law enforcement bodies, judges, policemen, - for legal services) with specific focus on access to high quality and uninterrupted ART and co-infections, mental health, sexual reproductive health services, legal protection/safety, livelihood enhancement, expanded current services by ensure that peer support & peer-based services, as integral part of the service components, are fully funded. Championing rights and increasing political commitments to toward advancing KPLHIV’s health (i.e., addressing rights/ gender-based/domestic violations among key populations living with HIV. This includes mobilization of political support from parliamentarians, policy makers or opposition leaders especially in countries where certain population or behavior is criminalized. Access to funding for KPLHIV, including funding for those traditionally excluded populations, i.e. people in prison) by influencing through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria-related processes/ national budget planning processes, development aid and private sectors.

Emerging themes for 2014 priorities derived from the Key Populations Living with HIV Advisory Group of GNP+ (cont.) Network strengthening and community mobilisation (creating linkages with other movements, creating a movement of underrepresented communities, i.e. transgender living with HIV, and developing advocacy skills for male and female sex workers). Meaningful participation in processes, i.e. improve inclusiveness of women having sex with women and TG living with HIV. Gathering more evidence (i.e. better understand and highlight example of effective interventions, better analysis and population- based prevalence study, better understanding on alternative methods to reach KPLHIV in the repressive environment, better data for adolescents and young people living with HIV who are key population, among others)

“We need to change the false paradigm that key populations are drivers of the HIV epidemic, whilst in fact it is the lack of services and violations of human rights that drives the epidemic and continues to represent major barriers to achieving health and dignity of our communities.”