Mexico

Alliance linking organisation: Colectivo Sol

Mexico accounts for around 11% of those living with HIV in Latin America – an estimated 200,000 people. Although there are signs of increasing risk of HIV infection among women, men account for around 77% of cases. HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men is estimated to be as high as 15.2%.

HIV-related stigma and discrimination have a serious impact in Mexico. Sex workers suffer humiliation when seeking medical care, people with HIV are denied jobs, gay men are harassed by the police and transgender people are targets of violence. Such attitudes greatly hinder the national response to HIV.

What we do

Since 1998 the Alliance has worked through linking organisation Colectivo Sol to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the central states of Mexico. These states have the weakest civil society response to AIDS in a highly conservative social context, which limits access to HIV prevention and care.

In 2005 Colectivo Sol began the Vida Digna (Life with Dignity) project, which combats HIV-related stigma and discrimination experienced by sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, injecting drug users and people living with HIV. Vida Digna works with these key populations in five cities in central Mexico: Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Leon, Querétaro and San Luis Potosí.

Vida Digna advocates to state and city authorities for greater access to HIV services. It raises awareness of the impact of stigma and discrimination and develops related information, education and communication materials. Through working with the media it has helped to reduce the use of discriminatory language in the local press.

The project helps key population members to build networks, and strengthens the capacity of organisations to design and implement responses to stigma and discrimination. Thirteen organisations, most of which are made up of key populations, have received grants for their work.

As part of the Vida Digna project, three transgender organisations were established, enabling transgender people to overcome low self esteem and isolation and to work together to overcome stigma and discrimination. These organisations include Fortaleciendo la Diversidad (FID), which focuses on reducing physical aggression by the police against transgender people.

The Vida Digna approach has caught the attention of organisations in other countries. Colectivo Sol is supporting the Alliance’s main partner in El Salvador to adapt the project to the local context.

Vida Digna was designed in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline's Positive Action programme.