Noticias
Noticias
With the participation of representatives of the ASICAL Network on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th of November at the Hotel Excelsior, the 4th Latin American Conference on Health, Citizenship, Human Rights of Gay Men took place. The main objective of this meeting was to validate the contents of the guides on Advocacy and Sexual Health for men with a strong focus on human rights, in the current context of the HIV epidemic in gay men in Latin America and the Caribbean.
It was attended by the Focal Points of the Region: Jorge Saavedra (Mexico), Fernando Muñoz (Chile), Alan Cignoli (Argentina), Roberto Lizama (Chile), Jorge Pacheco (Colombia), Fran Arkteaga (Bolivia), Edgardo Medina (Honduras), Victor Galicia (Mexico), Ronald Céspedes (Bolivia), Jorge Lopez (Guatemala), Omar Baños (USA), Alejandro Nasif (Argentina), Luis Fernando Leal (Colombia), Rodrigo Salgado (Brazil), Marcelo González (Argentina), Julio Moreira (Brazil), Genaro Portal (Peru) and Carlos Romero (Guatemala).
The First day of the meeting began with the presentation of the General Advocacy Guide and was followed by the Current Analysis of the HIV epidemic in the region. As strengths Several premises were presented as strengths in terms of advances of advocacy. Among them, the evidence that ARV treatment serves as prevention, the emergence of new prevention technologies and combined prevention as comprehensive strategies, visibility in the media with a more human and positive treatment. It was evident that in almost all countries in the region were assembled and strengthened networks of organizations for political advocacy. It was concluded that we must continue working more and more to achieve an articulated work to achieve the goals of our people.
On the Second day of the meeting the general directions were presented with respect to the way they work and the identification of gaps in sexual health for gay men and MSM, Experiences and Recommendations were discussed on Sexual Health for gay and other MSM.
This activity was conducted in the framework of "The Red Ribbon Week" organized by SOMOSGAY and the Kuimba'e Clinic where they conducted Days of Free Test for HIV and syphilis at several points in the city of Asuncion, and were distributed informational materials, condoms and lubricants. Also beginning on Monday, November 25th to Sunday December 1, the lights of the National Pantheon of the Heroes, will be lit in red on every night. Such activities are part of the commemoration of the World’s AIDS Day, dedicated to raising awareness on the advances of the HIV/AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.
The Association for Comprehensive Health and Citizenship in Latin America and the Caribbean (ASICAL), founded in 1997, currently has a membership of 20 organizations throughout Latin America and the Hispanic Caribbean. ASICAL pretends to strengthen advocacy in local, national and regional spaces through information management based on the monitoring of indicators of Universal Access and production of analysis information on the status of HIV in this population in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Advocacy is key to achieving significant progress in the conquest of rights, therefore it is necessary to strengthen capacities to advocate and financing plans and actions to ensure the same results.
The Consultation in Asuncion concluded with the presentation of the new logo and image of ASICAL. With the renewal in the image, the network is also proposed to upgrade its communication strategy to the present, giving priority to participation and focus on human rights. The new image of ASICAL aims in this regard to continue its mission to strengthen community organizations in its work of empowerment and citizenship.
SOMOSGAY is proud to contribute to this important initiative and thanked the members of ASICAL for their confidence in the organization and accepting the commitment to improve the response to HIV through effective action against homophobia and advocacy for people affected by this virus.
