“We are not vulnerable or marginalized. We are not numbers or statistics. We are people. Plan and engage with us on the basis of human rights. State all key populations by their denominations in the political declaration so that we are recognized, addressed & protected.”
– MPact Board Member Julian Kerbogghosian of the MENA Plus Network
Watch Julian’s Full Statement on Facebook
Last Friday, our partners from around the world made their interventions at the interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing as part of the preparatory process for the UN’s 2021 High-Level Meeting (HLM) on HIV/AIDS. The Hearing is a key way for Civil Society to input the UN’s Political Declaration on HIV – a document that will guide advocacy, policy and practices for UN Member States.
Civil society members from all key populations affected by HIV & AIDS joined together with the hashtag #WeAreHLM to bring attention to the issues that are most important to their communities. Activists and advocates asked important questions about the future of the global HIV response – speaking truth to power and demanding that nobody is left behind in the HIV response. This is a particularly important message as funding and resources continue to shift in global health.
Watch more highlights from the hearing on GNP+’s Facebook Page and take a look at some of our favorite interventions from our global partners:
Samuel Matsikure of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
@SaProgs @galzinf says let’s engage with science & trust evidence to shape our interventions. Important for HIV prevention & totally applies to COVID too at the moment #PeoplesVaccine #WeAreHLM pic.twitter.com/VtgHFWRybP
— Georgina Y Caswell (@gycaswell) April 23, 2021
Richard Lusimbo of Pan Africa ILGA
“Empowered communities are a force of change that can get us to epidemic control”@richardlusimbo #weareHLM @mpactglobal @gnpplus @ICW_Global @kenerela @iasociety @Aidsfonds @ITPCglobal @UNYPA1 @NetworkAthena @SalamanderTrust @GlobalSexWork @INPUD pic.twitter.com/7MOYBvM8mX
— Addah Anam (@Floriako) April 23, 2021
Felicita Hikuam of the AIDS & Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA)
Key takeaways: Equity. Role of communities. Full funding in #HIV & #Health & #COVID19. Invest in interventions like #decriminalisation. Back the ambitious indicators in #GlobalAIDSStrategy. #HLM2021AIDS Well said & so well facilitated Felicita @_ARASAcomms 👏🏽 #WeAreHLM pic.twitter.com/0oHZUsYa1v
— Aditi Sharma (@aditi_campaigns) April 23, 2021
Maria Phelan of the Robert Carr Fund for Civil Society Networks (RCF)
A well-resourced civil society is key to meet HIV goals. Long-term, flexible core funding ensures stability of civil society and leads to results! Maria Phelan @RobertCarrFund calls for funding for civil society organisations to deliver Political Declaration #PressureON #WeAreHLM pic.twitter.com/VFH0mYG8WM
— Georgina Y Caswell (@gycaswell) April 23, 2021