A three-part series examining the factors that fuel the risk of HIV/AIDS infection within the Netherlands Antilles prison system.

Crisis of the confined:
Sex, prison and HIV

PART I

By Judy H. Fitzpatrick

The popular adage, “you do the crime, you do the time,” may be true, but for John (not his real name), serving time was a worst nightmare come true.

He was incessantly raped, used for sexual exploits by other prison inmates and hadn’t any means of protecting himself from contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). He pleaded constantly with Bon Futuro Prison authorities to place him in confinement and away from his abusers, but for a long time no one seemed to be listening.

He was eventually placed in the insanitary ward, but that was only a temporary fix for a chronic problem facing many inmates at the largest penal facility in the Netherlands Antilles - Bon Futuro prison in Curaçao.
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I am currently working with Panos London to compile a list of people and/or projects specialising in participatory communication activities, to accompany their workshop in Vienna.

The list will be distributed at a workshop in Vienna “The Power of Participatory Communication Approaches: Amplifying Voices and Empowering People Affected by AIDS.” The workshop will be run by Siobhan Warrington and Clodagh Miskelly of Panos London for people who want to understand what's involved in implementing participatory communication activities. They will provide examples of different tools and approaches (participatory photography; oral testimony; video; digital storytelling) and discuss the principles, practicalities and ethical issues involved. ... - More

LAHORE, Pakistan — Kashif, a 25-year-old pipe fitter working in Dubai, was looking forward to meeting his wife and two young children.

Then Dubai officials found out he was HIV-positive and deported him.

Back in Pakistan, Kashif said, “I just can't brace myself to tell my wife that I have the AIDS virus”.

“I came back loaded with problems”, he said. Another big one is that he can’t find a job. “I still have the skills, but it’s not easy. People don't want to accept me (because they say) extramarital sex does not happen in our society”.

A high number of migrant workers, social taboos, and an aversion toward safe-sex practices have combined to make Pakistan susceptible to the spread of HIV/AIDS that has occurred in the country.
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Knowledge portal on HIV AIDS for South Asia

India HIV/AIDS Alliance (or, Alliance India) is pleased to announce the launch of its revamped website SETU (www.aidsallianceindia.net) on 22nd March 2010. The site will serve as a knowledge portal on HIV AIDS for South Asia. ... - More

The Globe and Mail - Canada's major national newspaper recently ran a major feature by Stephanie Nolan on AIDS and HIV trends in India. That article has a significant focus on gender related issues. For example:

"But there are also less-pleasant truths about India's victory over HIV. Beyond literacy, condoms, blunt ads and brilliant bureaucrats, one thing more than any other has checked the spread of the virus here: the oppression of Indian women. ... - More