Vía Libre, Peru
Vía Libre’s HIV/AIDS Advocacy with Key Populations project operates in Peru’s Arequipa, Ica, Iquitos and Lambayeque regions and focuses on two broad areas:
- advocacy activities
- training of and assistance to populations key to the epidemic to design and implement advocacy activities.
Throughout 2006, 98 advocacy activities took place as part of the project, including sending letters, the production of documents and recognition and accreditation. In two of the regions, advocacy working groups have joined the Multisectoral Regional Coordinating Body for Health (COREMUSA). Some working groups, and the organisations that form a part of them, are also participating in the process for the 2007 Participatory Budget, both at local and regional level. The working groups are also starting to coordinate and plan joint actions with other organisations working in HIV, human rights and civic participation, along with the ombudsman.
As the project moves into 2007, the groups hope to place HIV on the political agenda in Peru – particularly in the participatory budgets – to ensure the sustainability of actions carried out so far. The project will also be focusing on communications work, to try and create a more favourable view of key populations and HIV in society, the media and among members of key populations. Finally, the project hopes to establish a solid national network of key populations that will have an impact centrally, with proposals reaching senior managers in health and education.
Find out more about the experiences of Freddy Cahuina Ramos and Diana Quispe Pari, treasurer and secretary respectively of the Lazos sin Fronteras working group on HIV/AIDS advocacy with key populations in Arequipa: voices of change.
