26/02/03 - 28/02/03 Seventh IN-N Convention

Place: Madurai, Tamil Nadu

The urgent need for expanded HIV prevention options for women in India was addressed once again at this year’s National Convention of Indian Network of NGOs on HIV/AIDS. The Seventh National Convention, which brought together over 200 delegates from the entire sub-continent as well as international participants, was held in Madurai, Tamil Nadu from February 26-28, 2003.

During the opening session of the second day, Ananthy Thambinayagam of the Global Campaign and Bobby Ramakant of HDN Key Correspondent, presented a recap of the "Community Stakeholders’ Meeting on Prevention Options for Women in India", which was held last October in New Delhi. It was jointly convened by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH New Delhi), the Global Campaign for Microbicides, the Indian Network of NGOs on HIV/AIDS (IN N) and the Gujarat AIDS Prevention unit (GAP). In addition to community stakeholders, representatives from national and international agencies, pharmaceutical research organisations and manufacturers came together under one umbrella.

The meeting in October aimed to inform and prepare the Indian NGO community towards active participation in expansion of women-focused HIV prevention options. It was an opportunity to learn more about female condoms and microbicides; a way to identify roles of NGOs in research, introduction, access and use; and to mobilise the involvement of community stakeholders in the entire development process.

Several major points, which came out of a lengthy discussion on advocacy at the Community Stakeholder’s Meeting, were highlighted at the IN N Convention. Meeting participants concluded that although prevention options for women would offer women improved methods to protect themselves, no technology can transform the unequal power and social dynamics that perpetuate women's vulnerability. In addition, messages that position female condom and microbicides as 'putting the choice in hands of women' should be carefully drafted so as to also emphasize men’s role in making joint decisions about preventing infection and unwanted pregnancy. Finally, the focus of advocacy strategies and messages should be on expanding the range of prevention methods and not replacing one method with another.

It is clear that this meeting happened at the ripe moment for India, because although there had been ongoing advocacy initiatives for about two years or so, Phase III microbicides clinical trials will begin in 2003. Collective action is needed now in order to address issues on access and affordability of prevention options for women.

The basics about female condoms and microbicides were also presented at the Convention. This was of particular interest to those new members who were not present at the last two INN Conventions where prevention options were highlighted. Participants raised important concerns around microbicides research and development, access and availability. Many NGOs have already had experience with the female condom and shared their insight during the discussion. The issue of re-use was also raised.

Bobby Ramakant and Ananthy Thambinayagam also participated on a panel discussion on sexual rights and human right alongside Arif Jafar, Director of Naz Foundation Internatioanl and Aditya Bandopadhyay of the Lawyers Collective. During this discussion the panelists positioned expanded prevention options as a basic right of all people. In the context of this discussion, one member of the audience pointed that advocacy for microbicides and the female condom has started to bring together groups from diverse backgrounds that traditionally work independently of each other. And these efforts could change the way groups have been working on issues around HIV in India. This alone is a great accomplishment.

At the end of this year’s Convention advocacy for prevention options for women was recommended to the IN N Board as a priority activity that group should include in its agenda.