Sex between men occurs in every culture and society. Epidemiological studies and analyses show that men who have sex with
men are universally at greater risk of HIV and have higher prevalence rates than the general population. UNAIDS estimates
that 5 -10% of all infections globally are due to sex between men. Despite these basic facts men who have sex with men and
transgender people have been underserved by HIV and health programmes.
On September 16th, 2009, UNDP – the lead
agency within UNAIDS on men who have sex with men and transgender people - was invited to present some of these facts and
the United Nations’ response to men who have sex with men and HIV at a congressional briefing. ‘The Forum on HIV, human rights
and men who have sex with men ’ was convened by the Global AIDS Round Table Working Group on MSM and UNAIDS, and sponsored
by two Congress members; Barbara Lee and Howard Berman. The forum was held to raise attention about the human rights issues
that affect men who have sex with men as well as the policy and structural barriers that prevent them from accessing HIV
prevention, treatment, care and support.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé shared the platform with Ambassador
Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. “We are here because it remains an undeniable fact in all regions of the world—including
here in the US—that men who have sex with men lack universal access to HIV services,” said Michel Sidibé.
The criminalization
of same sex behavior in no less than eighty nations is preventing the realisation of health and human rights for men who have
sex with men and transgender people. Using the case of Jamaica, Jaevion Nelson, Director of Transition of the Jamaica Youth
Advocacy Network (JYAN) highlighted the adverse impact of the legal environments on the health of young MSM in Kingston,Jamaica.
He described the absence of information as a key contributing factor to a situation where young men are unaware of basic information
on HIV transmission and methods to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Dr. Cheikh Traoré, Senior Policy Advisor
on Sexual Diversity, gave an overview of the global response to the HIV prevention needs of men who have sex with men MSM
and outlined new opportunities for action within the UNAIDS family. The UNAIDS Action Framework for Men who have Sex with
Men and Transgender People will now form the basis of activities for the UN to facilitate and support the achievement of
universal access to appropriate HIV prevention, care. Agencies have started leading on actions to improve the human rights
situation of men who have sex with men and transgender people, strengthening the evidence base and expand programming and
partnerships to scale up responses for these groups.
Tudor Kovacs, Population Services International, Romania and Krista
Lauer, AIDS Project Los Angeles highlighted that international NGOs are aware of numerous examples of good practice to intervene
and work to reduce the vulnerability of men who have sex with men worldwide. New partnerships and greater attention in national
policy and programmes is greatly needed, if we want this knowledge to inform actions.
Evelyn Tomaszewski of the
National Association of Social Workers moderated the forum. In the coming months, UNAIDS will organise two additional forums
on drug use, sex work and HIV.
