The World Bank SAR AIDS & the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) invite you to attend the following seminar & reception at the 37th annual Global Health Council Conference on International Health

Tackling HIV related Stigma and Discrimination in South Asia: Lessons Learned

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
6:30-8:30 PM
the Governors Room, Omni Shoreham Hotel*
Moderator: Julie Mclaughlin, Sector Manager
Health, Nutrition Population, South Asia Region, World Bank

Presenters:
Laura Nyblade, Director, Stigma, Discrimination & Gender, ICRW
Mariam Claeson, Regional Coordinator, HIV/AIDS, World Bank
Anne Stangl, Behavioral Scientist and Stigma Specialist, ICRW

Although HIV prevalence in South Asia is low overall, HIV is still on the rise among vulnerable and often marginalized groups such as sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users and their partners, and men having sex with men who are particularly at risk for HIV. Stigma and other barriers impede efforts to reach those most in need of prevention, care and treatment services. A competitive grants program: "The South Asia Regional Development Marketplace: Tackling Stigma and Discrimination” supported innovative approaches for reducing stigma and discrimination in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, engaging a broad spectrum of groups, including transgender communities, men having sex with men, injecting drug users, sex workers, people living with HIV and AIDS, the media and religious leaders.

At this session we will present the lessons from these innovative approaches for reducing stigma in South Asia. In addition, we will discuss the monitoring and evaluation aspects of this regional effort to reduce stigma while building capacity among communities to monitor their programs. A review of existing stigma measures and current efforts to develop global stigma indicators will also be discussed.

Please note: You do not need to be registered at the Global Health Council conference as an attendee of this session but we do need you to RSVP so we can inform the hotel and plan for the refreshments. Please send an email to Khalid Khan at Mkhan6@worldbank.org.