On the 29th of January 2016 in Kherson held the first constituent meeting of the Kherson Regional Council communities (RCC). The Regional Coordinator of the NGO “Gay-alliance” in Kherson region Eugenia Lysak has informed all present about beginning of the implementation of advocacy direction in a region, its goals, objectives and waiting results.
The meeting was attended by activists of IDU/OST, sex workers, MSM and former prisoners and had been invited medical experts from the regional AIDS center and drug clinic, workers the center of providing free legal aid.
During the event, participants discussed barriers to access of vulnerable communities in the region to medical and social services. Also was discussed the prevalence of HIV among key populations, by lawyers from the state center for provision of secondary legal aid was made a presentation and discussed the possibilities of cooperation with Kherson RCC.
Considering the information provided by activists of vulnerable communities regarding barriers of access to services, near future will be drafted advocacy work plan in the region at 2016 and identified key issues on advocacy with which we will be working.
For reference:
Regional Council of communities (RCC) – a consultative and advisory body that includes leaders and activists of the most groups vulnerable to HIV, which aims to significantly strengthen the capacity of communities through joint advocacy actions, including to increase access to medical and social services to vulnerable communities in the region.
Work on capacity building and capability of vulnerable communities implemented by NGO “Gay-alliance” in the direction “Social mobilization, strengthening of ties, cooperation and coordination” among vulnerable groups IDU/OST, sex workers, MSM, former prisoners in 5 regions of Ukraine (Odesa, Kherson, Vinnitsa, Cherkasy, Kirovograd), with the financial support of ACO “All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH” and ICF “Alliance for Public Health”.
