Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to share below the Global Fund response to the petition published and shared with the Board Leadership and Board Members in July 2020.
Kind regards,
Sent on behalf of the Board Chair and Vice-Chair
Global Fund Response to Key Population Groups Worldwide
The Global Fund takes note of the call for accountability and action from Key Population Groups Worldwide published on July 2020.
The Global Fund is deeply concerned about the catastrophic impact COVID-19 is having on the most vulnerable communities in India and around the world. We stand with our civil society partners in the fight against HIV in India during this challenging crisis. The Global Fund recognizes the suffering experienced by millions of people in India during lockdowns and other restrictions due to COVID-19. We empathize with the millions of people in India who were left in need of food, shelter and protection during the lockdowns, particularly key populations who are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV.
We also recognize and applaud the leading role that many community-based organizations and faith-based organizations played in bringing relief to many vulnerable people, including key populations stranded many miles from home during the lockdowns. In addition, we recognize the substantial role the government of India has played in providing Direct Benefit Transfers (cash) and dry rations to many vulnerable people in the country.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 emergency, the Global Fund has acted swiftly to support countries to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate its impact on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. In India, the Global Fund approved a funding request by the India Country Coordinating Mechanism to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on existing HIV, TB, malaria programs, reinforce the national COVID-19 response and fund urgent improvements in health and community systems. The Global Fund encourages the India CCM to submit an additional funding proposal including funding for key populations.
The Board of the Global Fund has emphasized that all C19RM applications must be fully endorsed by stakeholders on the CCM. We note that an HIV and Malaria Stakeholder’s Consultation meeting took place on 29 April 2020 to consider the CCM’s application prior to its submission. We further note that the CCM’s application to the Global Fund under the C19RM mechanism did not include items for key populations relating to food, shelter, and protection from gender-based violence. In accordance with our fundamental principle of country ownership (as set forth in the Global Fund’s constitutional Framework Document) the Global Fund approves funding for activities based on the request submitted by the CCM. The Global Fund did, however, approve funding for 100 HIV Care and Support Centers (CSCs) where medical treatment to patients is provided, as this was specifically requested in the CCM’s application.
Noting that further funding under C19RM worth US$10 million may be made available in India, the Global Fund invites India CCM to submit another funding request. The Global Fund believes that the involvement of civil society and community leadership is imperative in ensuring that key populations and marginalized groups are not left behind in the fight against diseases.
Technical Guidance on what may be requested can be found at https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/covid-19/technical-guidance/
Attention Global Fund (21st July 2020)
Attention Global Fund – Urgent Call for Accountability and Action
From Key Population Groups Worldwide
We, sexworkers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs, otherwise known as ‘HIV key populations’ demand immediate and direct support for basic survival during the COVID pandemic.
Despite the promises made by multilateral agencies of “ leaving no one behind”, that is exactly what is happening. We have lost our jobs, are losing our homes, and are scared sick about how we will survive until we start working again. Yet no government, no multilateral agency, no UN organization – in fact not one of those who signed on to that promise has allocated any resources to ensure access to emergency rations, shelter, and medical care, which are critical to help us survive through this period.
Instead, in our name, millions of dollars are being spent on COVID testing equipment. For example, the Global Fund approved a USD20m COVID response fund for India that has no direct support for at least 1.5 million KPs, despite repeated, evidence-based demands by civil society.
There is undeniable evidence that KP leadership has scripted the success of HIV prevention efforts both in India and the world over. And while, organisations such as GFATM and UNAIDS have gained credibility and financial viability based on our struggles and hard-fought successes, key populations have themselves been left alone to mount yet another struggle to merely survive during these trying times.
We are shocked and hurt beyond measure that we have been abandoned at this time of crisis, even as People Living with HIV have some assured allocations for access to ARVs and other vulnerable people such as migrants have received some help.
The COVID pandemic has also exposed the continued lack of attention of global HIV programme planners to address structural issues that made us disproportionately vulnerable to HIV – Around 62% of new HIV infections occurred among key populations and their sexual partners, including gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people in prison, despite them constituting a very small proportion of the general population. The same failure is now again making us disproportionately vulnerable to COVID.
Therefore – we have two demands:
– In the short term, requisite allocations be made for our basic survival – food, shelter, emergency medical care and safety from violence
– In the medium and longer term, the CCMs should stop the tokenistic use of civil society; and that the Global Fund should stop actively facilitating the appropriation of the CCMs by governments
We await a speedy and positive response.
In solidarity,
(List of 238 signatory organisations below)
Networks:
- National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW), India
- All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW), India
- Indian Drug Users Forum (IDUF), India
- Indian Network for Sexual Minorities (INFOSEM), India
- Assam Network of Positive People (ANP+), India
- Telangana Intersex Transgender Samithi, India
- Taaras coalition, India
- Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), UK
- Sex Workers & Allies South Asia (SWASA), India
- The African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA), Kenya
- Sex Workers Education & Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), South Africa
- COAST SEX WORKERS ALLIANCE (COSWA-KENYA), Kenya
- Eldoret Sex Worker Alliance (KESWA), Kenya
- Acção de Solidariedade e Saúde Comunitária ASSC, Angola
- Kiambu Sex Workers Association, Kenya
- Action Humanitarian pour la Santé et le Development Communautaire, DRC
- Bar Hostess Empowerment and Support Program, Kenya
- Kisumu Sex workers Alliance, Kenya
- Eurasian Network of People who use drugs, European Union
- National Users Network of Nepal (NUNN), Nepal
- Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD), India
- Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Bangkok
- Association of Drug Users Manipur (ADUM), India
- Purvanchal Drug User Samiti, India
- Western Harm Reduction Network, India
- Nagaland Users Network, India
- Haryana Drug User Forum, India
- ADUM-Association of Drug Users Manipur, India
- Meghalaya State Network of Positive People, India
- Punjab Network of Positive People, India
- Mizoram State Network of Positive People, India
- Women’s Network of Keys Communities, India
- PEMA , Kenya
- Bungoma KPs network, Bungoma
- SERA Network, Bangladesh
- COSWA, Kenya
- Kenya Network Of people who use drugs ( KeNPUD )
- KENYA SEX WORKERS ALLIANCE
- Youth Association for Development (YAD), Pakistan
Community Based Organisations:
- Adharsa Mahila Mandali
- Anandam, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Annai Tharasa Makkal Sevai Maiyam
- Ashodaya Samithi
- Aarohan
- Amra Padatik
- Amrapali Mahila Samiti
- Anandam
- Beladingalu Mahila Okkuta
- Belaku Mahila Sangha
- Community Learning Center
- Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee
- Dibrugarh Self-employed Women Organization
- Dostana Safar
- Durgapur Mahila Samawaya Committee
- Durga Shakti mahila samste Davanageeri
- Ekta Mahila Mandal, Gujarat
- Gamana Mahila Samuha
- Ganika
- Gautam Buddha Jagriti Society
- Idhayam Thirunangaigal Munnetra Sangam
- Jeevan Jyoti Mahila Abhirudhi Samasthe
- Jeewanadhara Mahila Samiti
- JGLS
- Jivan Jyoti Prabodhini Sanstha
- Jalpaiguri Mahila Unnayan Samiti
- JMS
- Karnataka Sex Workers Union (KSWU)
- Kiranam Mahila Samaikya Sangam
- KMSV
- Kranti Mahila Sangh
- Kalyani Chetna Utthan Samiti
- Karamjibi Mahila Samiti,
- LBSDS
- Leaf Foundation
- Mahila Ekta Sangh
- Mamata network of Positive Women
- Manmilan Bahudeshiya Samajik Sanstha
- Milan Mahila Sangathan
- Mrignayani Seva Sansthan
- Muskan Sanstha
- Me and My World
- Mitra
- Mahila Jagruta Sevabhavi Sanstha
- Mahila Mukatagan Manadal Beed
- Mahilakranti
- Manmilan DMBS
- Mother Teresa Mahila Mandali
- Muktangan Mahila Mandal
- Naarisaksham mahila welfare association
- Namakkal Mavatta Sabarmathi Pengal membattu Sangam
- National Transgender Trinuvungai Hijra Kinnar Association
- Navchetna Yuva Vikas sanstha Yavatmal
- Navya Sri Mahila Welfare Society
- Nisarga
- Prema Sangam
- Q-Initiative
- Rudramadevi Mahila Mandali
- Rakshane Jilla Mahila Okkuta
- Saheli HIV/ AIDS Karyakarta Sangh
- Sangama
- Soukhya Samudaya Samaste
- Soukhya Samruddhi Samsthe
- Sakhi Jyot Sangathan
- Sakhi Sanghatan
- Salem Pengal Nalavazhu Sangam
- Salem Thirunangaigal Nala Sangam
- Samara society
- Sanjivani
- Sarvodaya Samiti
- Savara
- Shakthi AIDS Prevention Society
- Shakti Uday Sansthan
- Sindhur
- Sahodaran Community-Oriented Health Development Society
- SMS
- Soukhya Sanjeevini Samsthe
- Spandana
- Mythri Public Welfare Society
- Sri Lakshmi Pengal Munnetra Sangam
- Sri Mahila Sadhikarika Welfare Society
- Stri Shakti Bahuuddesiya Sanstha
- Sudharoli Pengal Munetra Sangam
- Sundhur
- Swadhar Sangh
- Swagathi Mahila Samaikya Sangham
- Sahyog Mahila Mandal
- Sarvodya Samiti
- Shakhya Foundation
- Shakti Udai Sansthan
- Shramjibi Mahila Sangh
- Silchar Mahila Sangathan
- Stri Shakti Bahu Uddeshiya Sevabhavi Sanstha
- Soukhya Samruddhi Samsthe Kolar
- Thanjavur Annai Therasa Makkal Sevai Maiyam
- The Humsafar Trust
- Thanjavur Women Tai Vizhudhugal Trust
- The God Therisa Mahila Mandali
- Theni Mavatta Pengal samuga Porulathara Munnetra Sangam
- Transgender Resource Center
- Uday Rekha Mahila Mandali
- Usha Multi Purpose Cooperative Society
- Uttar Karnataka Mahila Okkutta
- Vadamalar Federation
- VANITHA MYTHRI PUBLIC WELFARE SOCIETY
- Vellore Pengal Membattu Sangam
- Vidivelli Thirunangaigal munnetra Sangam
- VAMP
- Wada Seva Sansthan, Jhabua
- Warembo Sasa
Civil Society Organisations
- Astitva Trust
- Ashraya
- Adarasha Trust
- Amrapali Mahila Samiti
- Aneka
- Anmol Samaj Sevi Sanstha
- Apna Ghar Kalyan Sanstha
- ASEPROVIC
- Aadhar Sanstha
- Aahe ki
- Aarju Foundation
- Amitie Trust
- AARTH
- Apsara Foundation
- BHAVYA
- Catalyst Management Services Pvt Ltd
- Centre for Social Reconstruction
- CREEIJ ASBL
- Chola
- Community Awareness and Development Foundation
- Damini Samiti
- Destiny
- Dostana Safar
- Darpan Foundation
- Ekta Foundation
- EMAC
- Empower India
- Forum Foundation
- Fortune Women
- Global Health Promise, USA
- Bandhan
- Hope Foundation
- Hopers Foundation
- HFRC
- Hoymas Kenya, Kenya
- HPLGBT
- Inigo Foundation
- Integrated Social work Organization
- Jalpaiguri Uttarayan
- Kayakalpa
- Kiaswa Initiative
- KNSW
- Koshish
- Kundhani
- Love Life Society
- LVCT Health
- Maa Foundation Samiti
- Maaygo CSOI
- Maharashtra Thrithiya Panthi Sangatana
- Malabar Cultural Forum
- Marg
- MDUF
- Maitri Trust
- MENANPUD
- Mothers for the Future
- Mrignayani Seva Sansthan
- Muranga Stars
- MYRADA
- Naibhor Society
- Nirangal
- Nirmaan Rehabilitation Facility
- Praxis
- Prarambh
- RETHUNYA
- RSO
- SANGRAM Sanstha
- Swasti
- South India AIDS Action Programme
- Sangini Foundation
- Sankalp Foundation
- Second Life
- Social Venture Partners
- Samarpan Trust
- Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust
- Sarathi Trust
- Shri Durga Jankalyan Samiti
- Saarathi Nepal, Nepal
- Sahara , Africa
- Sangeet Nritya Kalakar Sanstha
- The Freedom Foundation India
- The Naz Foundation (India) Trust
- The Banyan
- Transparency International
- True Vine Mentors
- Vidhayak Trust
- Women’s Initiatives
- Young Women and Girls Empowerment Program