Although HIV prevalence in South Asia is low, marginalized groups such as sex workers, injecting drug users and men having sex with men are particularly vulnerable to HIV. Stigma and other barriers impede efforts to reach those most in need of prevention, care and treatment services. A competitive grants program: The South Asia Regional Development Marketplace: Tackling Stigma and Discrimination have supported innovative approaches for reducing S&D in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, engaging a broad spectrum of groups, including transgender communities, MSM, IDU, sex workers, people living with HIV, the media and religious leaders. At this session we will present the lessons learnt from this initiative and showcase best practices in tackling stigma in South Asia. We will also discuss the monitoring and evaluation aspects of this regional effort to reduce stigma while building capacity among communities to monitor their programs. Stigma indicators that could be incorporated into national programs that scale up these innovations will also be discussed.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentMDK:22078231~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:223547,00.html
