The OSI Sexual Health and Rights Project (SHARP) periodically distributes information on key sexual health and rights advocacy issues, events, and grant opportunities as they arise. Subscribe to receive updates by e-mail.

Topics

• SHARP Activities
• SHARP Grantee News
• Call for Proposals
• Events
• International AIDS Conference Activities

SHARP Activities

SHARP Welcomes Part-Time Program Assistant, Rebekah Chang
SHARP is pleased to welcome Rebekah Chang as a part-time Program Assistant. Rebekah is a recent graduate of Columbia University, where she majored in Economics and Political Science and minored in Human Rights. She has worked as a program intern at Global Justice Center, a legal women's human rights organization, and as a part-time assistant for OSI's Public Health Program. Rebekah was a member of Columbia's chapter of Amnesty International and she was also heavily involved in Columbia's chapter of Liberty in North Korea.

MSM-HIV Prevalence Study and Advocacy Meeting Held in Kenya
SHARP grantees, The Rainbow Project and Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), presented research findings on HIV prevalence in communities of men who have sex with men (MSM) at a May 2008 meeting hosted by the Kenya National AIDS Control Council and the Population Council. The meeting brought together researchers, advocates and national AIDS program managers from other African countries to review the status of research and evidence around HIV and men who have sex with men in Africa.

The meeting followed an April event organized by SHARP with the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights (CPHHR). Partners implemented research and related advocacy on HIV prevalence among MSM in Botswana, Namibia, Malawi and South Africa.

The research project was initiated in response to the dearth of funding and programs addressing access to HIV prevention and AIDS treatment services despite anecdotal evidence that MSM could be at high risk. More information about the meeting can be found here. A UNAIDS published article provides more information on MSM in Africa and the SHARP/OSISA funded initiative.

SHARP Grantee News

Empower Foundation Selected as Winner of Red Ribbon Award 2008
SHARP congratulates the Empower Foundation from Thailand for being selected as a winner of the Red Ribbon Award 2008. This initiative is a partnership between the UNAIDS family and the Leadership and Community Program Committees of the XVII International AIDS Conference. The award honors exceptional grassroots leadership in responding to the AIDS epidemic, and will be presented at the AIDS Conference in Mexico City in August 2008. Empower was selected from a pool of over 560 applicants.

Cambodia Sex Workers' Day of Awareness: June 4, 2008
For the past two months, law enforcement officials in Cambodia have cracked down on the sex industry, forcing nationwide brothel closures and raids in areas where sex workers and their clients are known to gather. Sex workers have reported widespread human rights abuses by police including extortion, rape, and the illegal confiscation of personal property and income.

In response, sex workers, with the support of SHARP grantee, the Asia-Pacific Network of Sex Workers, organized a day of awareness to release video-taped documentation of the situation and call for an end to the abuses on the part of law enforcement. On June 4, approximately 200 sex workers staged a protest in the capital, Phnom Penh, to call for end to the human rights abuses.

Calls for Nominations, Proposals, and Applications

Awards for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights
Deadline: Friday, June 27, 2008, before 5 p.m. EST
The Awards for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights — jointly awarded by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch — recognize excellence and long-term commitment to work having a direct impact on HIV/AIDS and human rights issues, in particular work that is of direct relevance to marginalized individuals and communities. Traditionally there has been an award for an international recipient and an award for a Canadian recipient. International recipient nominations must be received before 5 p.m. EST on Friday, June 27, 2008. Nominations may be submitted here or here.

Open Society Institute, Arts and Culture Program
June 2008 - December 2010
The Arts and Culture Network Program of the Open Society Institute announces its new Call for Proposals open on an ongoing basis from June 2008 until the end of 2010. Applications will be reviewed within two months after submission, and notifications will be sent out within three months after confirming the receipt of a complete application. Grants are available in the following programmatic areas: Enhancing Collaborative Practices, Developing Public Cultural Spaces and Roma Cultural Programs.

The Sexual Rights Initiative/Universal Periodic Review Reports
Deadline: June 10, 2008
The Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) is looking for young activists interested in producing brief reports (5 pages) on pressing concerns in their countries with respect to Sexual Rights issues, including –but not limited to - reproductive rights, sexual diversity, sexuality education, HIV/AIDS, etc., to be submitted for the 3rd round of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Those submitting a report will be paid an honorarium of $500 USD and may get the opportunity to attend the UPR session in December. Applications are due by June 10, 2008. For more information, contact Alejandra Sarda at alejandra@mulabi.org and marina@mulabi.org.

Synergos Institute: Senior Fellows Network
Deadline: June 27, 2008
The Synergos Institute is currently accepting applications for its next class of Senior Fellows. The Senior Fellows Network is a program for distinguished international civil society leaders committed to working collaboratively with other NGOs, business and government to achieve social change. Synergos Senior Fellows participate in a three-year learning, service and action program that aims to build their skills, spread their knowledge, and deepen their impact. All of the costs of participation are provided by Synergos and its supporters. There are currently almost 100 Fellows from more than 30 countries, including some of the most well-respected heads of civil society organizations throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. More information about the application process can be found at http://www.synergos.org/fellows.htm.

Events

University of Nottingham, Human Rights Law Ccenter - Second Annual Summer School on Human Rights Monitoring
June 16-20, 2008
The University of Nottingham Human Rights Law Centre runs an annual summer school on the theme of "Human Rights Monitoring." The 2008 course will consider aspects of the reporting process of the United Nations Treaty Bodies as well as look at the individual communications procedures. The five day program will involve presentations by leading experts in the field accompanied by interactive group discussions, case studies and skills development exercises. For further information about the course, contact llxaw3@nottingham.ac.uk or download a registration form.

International AIDS Conference Activities

Women and Girls' Rally and March
Input Requested by June 23, 2008
Women around the world are organizing for the upcoming XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. In particular, a women's and girls' rally and march is being organized. The umbrella slogan of this event will be "All Women, All Rights!"

The goal of the march is to promote a human rights perspective that includes civil, economic and cultural rights; to allow a broad range of women's groups to express their specific issues under this slogan; and to address stigma and discrimination faced by women living with HIV/AIDS.

The event organizers would like your input in order to create a list of individual, specific rights (e.g. access to healthcare, freedom from violence, access to education, etc.) to be included in signs and dissemination materials.

Please send your suggestions by Monday, June 23 to aids08womensrights@gmail.com

Women's Networking Zone at the Global Village
A partnership of international and Mexican groups will convene a Women's Networking Zone (WNZ) at the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) in Mexico City. The WNZ will be located in the Global Village of AIDS 2008, and will be open to both Conference delegates and the general public.

The public is invited to participate in the WNZ – people are encouraged to get involved by sharing ideas for possible content, formats (like dialogues, debates, films, drama, music, dance, and workshops) and speakers.

For more information about the WNZ and how to participate, email wnzaids2008@gmail.com

International March for Human Rights & HIV/AIDS
August 7, 2008, 7 am, Mexico City, Mexico
Thousands of activists and people affected by HIV and AIDS will join a global march for human rights during the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. Please join the Open Society Institute to express your support for populations at high risk for HIV, and for vastly greater attention to human rights in the response to HIV.