Workshop probes MSM, Transgender and HIV in the islands [1]
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 18:40. Updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 16:48.
A three-day sexual minority group workshop on MSM (men who have sex with men), Transgender and HIV facilitated by the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation ended on June 25 in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
PIAF CEO, Maire Bopp DuPont, said the purpose of the workshop was to consult with key people from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and New Zealand, on the situation of MSM, Transgender and HIV in the Pacific Island region.
The workshop therefore aimed to identify key action areas that the Pacific NGO Alliance could support as part of their action plan for 2009-2013, to reduce the vulnerability of sexual minority groups to HIV and AIDS.
The 8 participants came up with 4 key action areas:
1. To improve knowledge and acceptance of MSM, HIV/AIDS and its related issues in the communities; 2.to establish and maintain peer support groups; 3. to improve access to quality services; 4. to increase employment opportunities for Sexual Minority Groups.
Participants also stressed the need to identify an appropriate and culturally sensitive terminology for 'MSM' and 'Transgender' in the Pacific Island Region. But the participants acknowledged that coming up with such a term was no easy task and would require further dialogue.
The workshop was conducted on behalf of the Pacific NGO Alliance, of which PIAF is the Regional Secretariat, and was made possible through funding from the Global Fund Round 2. PIAF, 30/06/08.