[REPORT] UNDP Publishes Study Highlighting Weaknesses in Legal Protections for PLHIV in Asia and the Pacific

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149713-HIV-2013-legal-protections-against-hiv-related-human-rights-violations.pngIn its recently released follow-up study to the report on the Global Commission on HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights and Health (July 2012), the UNDP finds that HIV-related anti-discrimination laws and their enforcement are failing to provide adequate human rights protection for people living with HIV (PLHIV)  in the Asia-Pacific region. The report, titled Legal protections against HIV-related human rights violations: Experiences and lessons learned from national HIV laws in Asia and the Pacific, surveys laws in the Asia-Pacific region meant to provide legal protections for people living with HIV/AIDS and, the gap between these laws and their enforcement. According to Shiba Phurailatpam, Regional Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (APN+), who is quoted in the press release: “The report’s findings demonstrate the urgent need for practical measures to be taken to ensure people who experience violations can access the legal system to claim their rights.” He urged governments and donors in the region “to help strengthen access to justice and legal empowerment among people living with HIV.”

The UNDP’s recommendations emphasize the need for legal reform and capacity development to expand access to justice for PLHIV and other key populations, as well as greater investment from international stakeholders. The UNDP urges donors such as the Global Fund to “support government and civil society programming on HIV-related human rights, including access to justice programmes.”

Asia Catalyst’s Advocacy Program Director, Shen Tingting, recently joined the Developing Country NGO Delegation to the Global Fund Board; her involvement will provide a direct channel for advocacy on these issues with the Global Fund.   If you have suggestions or ideas, feel free to contact her at info@asiacatalyst.org.  For more information on the UNDP’s findings and the full report click on the links below.

Click here to for the UNDP press release.

Click here for the full report: Legal protections against HIV-related human rights violations: Experiences and lessons learned from national HIV laws in Asia and the Pacific.

[NEWS] Guangdong Province Ends Mandatory HIV Testing for Teaching Candidates

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By Mikaela Chase

Guangdong Province appears likely to be the first province in China to end mandatory HIV testing for prospective teachers. Currently, teaching candidates must take an HIV test as part of the required physical examination for teachers. Those who test positive for HIV/AIDS are effectively disqualified and banned from working in the education sector. On May 27, the Guangzhou provincial education department made public their revised health standards; as of September 1, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) will be able to work as teachers (along with other previously excluded groups, including applicants with physical disabilities). The issue of employment discrimination against PLWHA in China received international attention this January, when the Nanjing-based nonprofit Justice for All obtained compensation for the plaintiff in the first ever successful AIDS employment lawsuit.

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Call for Applications for Development Project Fund (DPF) Updated Guidelines

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Notice:

NEW ZEALAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FUND (DPF): 2013/2014 FUNDING ROUND

Click this text and follow the link to find the revised New Zealand Development Project Fund (DPF) guidelines and application forms in Chinese and English for the 2013/2014 round. We would welcome an application from your organisation. The deadline for application to be received is Friday 23 August 2013.

We would like to advise that this year the target western provinces and regions are still Guizhou, Yunnan, Gansu, Xinjiang, Guangxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Qinghai and Ningxia.

The total allocation for the Development Project Fund this financial year is NZD 500,000 (approximately RMB 2,500,000). The maximum grant for each project will remain at NZD 100,000 (approximately RMB 500,000), but we strongly encourage applications for smaller amounts.

Applications can be completed in either Chinese or English.

Should you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

新西兰发展基金（DPF）2013/14年度项目申请

新西兰发展基金（DPF）中英文申请指南及申请表请见附件。我们诚挚地希望您积极递交申请。申请截止日期为2013年8月23日星期五。

今年发展基金重点援助的地区依然是贵州、云南、甘肃、新疆、广西、四川、西藏、青海、宁夏九个西部省和自治区。

2013/14年度发展基金援款总额为500,000新元（约2,500,000人民币）。每个项目援款约为100,000新元（约500,000人民币）。我们鼓励申请较小额度的援款。

申请表可以用中英文任一语言填写。

如您有任何问题，请与我联系。

Call for applications of China Head of Mission Fund – New Zealand Aid Programme

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China Head of Mission Fund Deadline

The Head of Mission Fund (HOMF) for China is a small discretionary grant scheme managed by the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing.  The HOMF is a component of the New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government’s international aid and development programme managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

Applications for the next round of China Head of Mission Fund should be send to the New Zealand Embassy, Beijing before Friday 5 July 2013.

Guidelines and Application Form are attached.

新西兰驻华大使馆大使基金本轮申请截止日期

大使基金（HOMF）是由新西兰驻华大使馆（北京）管理的小额赠款制度，是新西兰外交贸易部管理的政府国际援助和发展计划新西兰援助计划的一部分。

大使基金本轮申请截止日期为2013年7月5日星期五，请在该日期之前将申请递交给新西兰驻华大使馆（北京）。

附件：大使基金申请指南与申请表。

 

Please note that applications may be completed in either Chinese or English. For more information please visit our website here for English or here for Chinese language.

请注意：申请表可以用中文或英文填写。如需了解更多信息，请访问我们的英文网址

https://www.nzembassy.com/china/news/china-and-mongolia-head-of-mission-fund-deadlines 或中文网址https://www.nzembassy.com/zh-hans/china/news/china-and-mongolia-head-of-mission-fund-deadlines。

国际不再恐同日，跨性别纪录片《兄弟》首映 – Beijing IDAHO Event Increases Transgender Visibility in China with the Premiere of the Documentary “Brothers”

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Beijing IDAHO Event Increases Transgender Visibility in China with the Premiere of the  Documentary “Brothers”

On 17 May 2013, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), several Beijing LGBT organizations including Queer Comrades, the Aibai Culture & Education Center, the Beijing Gender Health Education Institute and Common Language worked together with the Netherlands Embassy in Beijing to hold the event “lgbT – Increasing Transgender Visbility in China”. More than 80 people, including media representatives, educational professionals, mental health workers and civil society volunteers, got together to watch the premiere of the transgender documentary “Brothers” and talked about the most pressing transgender issues in China.

Full text of the English and Chinese press release for “Brothers” is below. (more…)