Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 21:46:16 +0200 From: ilga Subject: *AIDS Seminar in Brazil* ILGA PRESS RELEASE *SUCCESSFUL TRAINING SEMINAR ON AIDS EDUCATION IN LATIN AMERICA* In late May in Curitiba, Brazil, a successful training seminar on AIDS prevention organized by ILGA's AIDS working group called for Latin American governments to prioritize AIDS prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM's), and lauded Brazil's National AIDS project, which recognizes the promotion of civil rights and human rights of homosexuals as a major factor in AIDS prevention. The course invited 26 key figures and organizations involved in AIDS prevention and support work with male homosexuals. It was organized by the Grupo Dignidade, which is a member of ILGA, and was financed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health's National Programme on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS and supported by the Curitiba Municipal Health Board and the Parana State Health Board. 13 representatives were expected from the five regions of Brazil as well as 13 representatives from the other Mercosur countries (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) and guests from Chile and Colombia. Brazil's National Programme on STDs and AIDS acknowledges the important contribution made by homosexuals in the fight against AIDS and sees the promotion of civil rights and human rights as a key factor in AIDS prevention. To date Brazil is the only developing country to have work extensively with gay organizations on stemming the epidemic. It is hoped that the participants in the course will subsequently develop programmes along the same lines back in their own countries and that international sources of funding, such as the UN AIDS programme, will support projects with groups working on AIDS prevention and support with homosexuals in the same way as the national AIDS programme in Brazil. Although AIDS is a disease that can affect anyone, in Latin America homosexuals and bisexuals account for 48% of cases, whereas heterosexuals account for only 25%. This is why it is particularly important to invest in projects on preventing the disease among this section of the population. It is also important to take account of the different ways in which the gay community has developed in the different countries. In Chile, homosexuality is a crime. In Paraguay and Colombia, there are no groups defending the civil and human rights of gays. In Paraguay there are no openly visible gay groups, or even any informal ones. In Argentina, the word "condom" is systematically kept out of prevention campaigns. These differences constitute the context in which AIDS prevention work has to operate and clearly illustrate the sort of dangers facing these different countries. Jordi Petit, secretary-general of ILGA, stated "Latin American governments must recognize the importance of the human rights of gay men in the fight against AIDS. We congratulate the Brazilian government on their policies and invite other Latin American national health departments to follow suit." Curitiba, Brazil, 20 May 1996 (For more info, contact Jeffrey Stanton of ILGA's AIDS Working Party at ilgaawp@aol.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 75 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 100 supportive associate and individual members. Will you join us? Contact us for more info!