UNDP, in collaboration with South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation in Law (SAARCLAW), developed a series of framework to assist human rights defenders in South Asia to work together on advocacy priorities for removing the legal and policy barriers that prevent MSM and transgender people from enjoying the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, particularly in relation to access to HIV prevention, treatment and care. It is focused as much on governments and national AIDS Programmes as it is on community organizations, as partnerships between governments and civil society have proven to be an effective vehicle for change in this area.
The framework focus on the contribution that human rights and the law make to health for individuals and communities. “HIV thus represents a good example of the multi-faceted relationship between health and human rights. It shows how health policies and legislation can impact detrimentally on human rights, while violations of human rights can detrimentally affect health”.
Within the frameworks, APCOM, as a regional community organisation working for the improvement of lives of MSM and transgender across Asia-Pacific region – including South Asia, is mentioned as one of the key groups to work in partnership with on issues related to laws and regulations affecting sexual minorities:
Accompanying this regional document are national Advocacy Frameworks for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
