The IPPF strategic framework and policy on gender equality clearly reflects IPPF’s commitments to working with men, to identify and address their own sexual and reproductive health needs and ensuring that men fully understand and promote gender equality and support women’s, children’s and other men’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and rights. However, ‘Gender’ is still approached in some of our programme planning discourses as a synonym for women, while possibilities to deconstruct masculinities are largely ignored. We need better and deeper understanding of the diversity of South Asian men's experiences, attitudes, beliefs, practices, situations, sexualities and institutions. In order to rigorously engage men in SRHR work, SARO has made a beginning by developing a manual on male involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health. This manual, primarily meant to bring out clarity of issues of male involvement in sexual and reproductive health for the Member Associations of IPPF in the South Asia Region is now available with IPPF SARO. (For a copy, please send an e-mail to ssubramaniam@ippfsar.org )
Research Summary: From the Frontline is a study published by the Naz Foundation International which reports on the high levels of sexual violence, marginalization and stigma experienced by males who have sex with males (MSM) in India and Bangladesh. The report finds that the primary cause of this violence is cultural gender norms rather than sexual identity, since those MSM who identify as Kothi (feminine men) are most at risk. Stigmatization reduces the educational and other opportunities available to feminine MSM and the resulting poverty leaves some MSM dependent on sex work and vulnerable to abuse and HIV infection. The study also reports that this group experiences high levels of discrimination in accessing services, and high levels of harassment, including sexual violence, from the police. The report recommends awareness training for the police on the issues facing MSM, and on general human rights, and working with the criminal justice system to ensure that acts of rape and sexual violence against MSM are prosecuted. Read the full text of the study at: http://www.nfi.net
Resources: Pukar is an international sexual health and HIV/AIDS journal focusing on South Asian masculinities and sexualitites (available at: http://www.nfi.net/ ). Its recent edition (July 2007) look at the policy issues that are having a dramatic impact on MSM, HIV, risks and vulnerabilities. The increasing HIV burden being placed on MSM across many countries in Asia and the Pacific, arise from stigma, discrimination, social exclusion and denial.
News: A review of ‘abstinence only education’ in developing countries presented to last year’s international AIDS conference at Toronto found no evidence of such initiatives reducing the incidence of STIs or pregnancy. Now, evidence coming from developed countries also emphasizes the futility of such efforts. See the latest study results from the Oxford University who conducted an analysis of all published studies looking at the effectiveness of abstinence only education - available at
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/335/7613/248. (The study is published in the August 3rd edition of the British Medical Journal)
Events: 8th International congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific concluded on 23 August 2007 at Colombo. Key issues came up for discussion here were “stigma and discrimination, access to treatment for PLWHAs, ensuring political leaders keep their promises, harm reduction activities, scaling up services for the affected and community leadership. IPPF had a significant presence in this forum. To get more on the IPPF activities at the Congress please write to aids@ippfsar.org
Please send your feedback/information etc. to access@ippfsar.org
IPPF SARO Team