Societies Tackling AIDS through Rights

1. STAR Societies Tackling AIDS through Rights Presented by Christy Abraham International Theme Manager HIV & AIDS ActionAid International

2. STAR A participatory approach to empowering individuals and communities in the face of HIV & AIDS Developed by ActionAid Evolved from the Rights based Framework to HIV and AIDS

3. STAR Principles People Centered: Empowering people to communicate, advocate and responded to by those in power Mutual Respect: Respecting peoples knowledge, experiences, perspective and skills Human Rights: Rights are universal and indivisible for ALL irrespective of their conditions and it has to be protected by the Duty holders

4. STAR Principles Participation: Ensure equal space for individual and collective participation Social Mobilisation: From personal level to mobilising actions at local, national and International levels Holistic Response: HIV & AIDS requires an integrated, long term multi sectoral response

5. STAR Approach reflection Family GENDER HIV/AIDS facilitation dialogue HUMAN RIGHTS Government Community action learning Participation Tri-Focal Lens Learning & Literacy Mobilization For Action Communication Power Analysis

6. How star works Men Youth STAR CIRCLES Peer Group Approach 25-30 25-30 25-30 25-30 Women Vulnerable groups

7. Reflect, Organise, Mobilise, Take Action and Claim Rights Men Youth Legal Governance Academia 25-30 25-30 Media State 25-30 25-30 Traditional leaders Civil Society Women Vulnerable groups

8. STARProcess reflection Family GENDER HIV/AIDS facilitation dialogue HUMAN RIGHTS Government Community action learning Participation Campaign & Advocacy actions to claim rights Men Youth Legal Governance Academia 25-30 25-30 Enjoying Rights Learning & Literacy Mobilization For Action Media State 25-30 Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care & support 25-30 Traditional leaders Civil Societies Communication Power Analysis Women Vulnerable groups

9. STAR IN ACTONAID COUNTRY PROGRAMMES • STAR was implemented in 19 Country Programmes of AA with support from European Commission and Africa Pamoja Network during 2005-2008. • A qualitative study was done in early 2010 to review the Impact of STAR in communities. • 12 countries were found to have significant impact through the STAR processes • Am sharing with you some such successes

10. Implementation of STAR in Actionaid country programmes ASIA Bangladesh India Cambodia Pakistan

11. India • India: • STAR Circles - 1547 • Direct Members - 92820 • Integrated into the NACO-UNDP supported Link Worker Scheme Project. • Focus-Strengthening Health Systems

13. Bangladesh • Bangladesh: • Changing power structures at community • Capacity of women and adolescent girls built for Livelihood • 6 facilitators and 2 PLHIV volunteers received the UNAIDS community volunteer Awards for 2009. UN community volunteer Awardees

14. Pakistan: • 18 STAR circles with 400 members. • Focus on PLHIV, transgender, home based Female sex workers • Issues - Lack of testing centres, Anti retrovirals and SRH services and stigma • Impact - First TG organisation was registered in Pakistan in 2009

15. Cambodia : • Issue: Strengthening community Education on HIV • 5000 people reached through community education on HIV and AIDS, women’s health and treatment literacy using participatory (STAR) approach.

16. Implementation of STAR in Actionaid country programmes AFRICA Gambia Sierra Leone Nigeria Uganda Ethiopia Malawi Tanzania Zimbabwe

17. Africa • The Gambia: • Awareness created on civic education and rights. • Women are increasingly demanding their rights to socio economic development. • The women of Wuli harnessed milling machines, ten hectares of land, a groundnut marketing scheme and space for a day care centre.

18. Uganda • Uganda: • Donor influencing agenda. • Implemented in 6 districts and 6 CBOs. • Modelled MIPA • Reduction in Stigma and Discrimination.

19. Zimbabwe: Issue: Silence Around HIV and no demand for Services “They taught us about the importance of undergoing VCT; being on ART; how to manage one’s diet when one is HIV positive; To date four couples in Tazvinzwa and Chigudu villages have revealed their status which is encouraging..It has influenced the coming of an Opportunistic Infections clinic at Weya hospital where the number of people attending is increasing every month.”Says -Mrs. Nyakaswa (47).

20. Nigeria • Issue lack of potable water. • Mobilised the community members to take action by digging wells with a target of one (1) well for 15 households. • Malawi: • Issue - Orphans and vulnerable children. • 27 child care centers established in 40 villages.

21. Ethiopia • Ethiopia: • Change in attitudes towards HIV testing and Treatment. • “We all agreed to be going for VCT every 3 months because real change must start with us before we can change our families and our community”said KebeduTiumay, one of the group facilitators • STAR is empowering its members economically through ventures in savings and credit, and farming support .

22. Tanzania: • Issue - Money Not Reaching Down- amendment of the Tanzania HIV and AIDS prevention Act 2008. • 6 membership organizations of PLHIV and 1,200 STAR circles. • Sierra Leone: • Issue:Violence Against women and Girls • Improvinglivelihood options for women. • Men playing a Key role in changing situations • Formation of “Voices of Sierra Leone”

23. STAR Impact • STAR is mobilizing communities to be responsible, take action, demand for rights and stakeholders are responding • Can go to scale, applicable in different contexts with ALL communities, process led with outcome orientation • STAR is a Social Change communication process leading to changes in Power dynamics at social and political levels

24. Thankyou