Breakthrough on AIDS and men who have sex with men in Africa

Human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are widespread. Yet some positive signals are emerging that the future might look brighter for men who have sex with men.

A breakthrough regarding openness about homosexuality in Africa occurred at the International Conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Africa (ICASA) in December 2008. For the first time the issue was openly addressed at such a high level. However, there is still a long way to go to include men who have sex with men (MSM) in the AIDS responses at national levels.

Homosexuality is very much understudied in West Africa, and in Nigeria it is criminalized, making it difficult to reach MSM. As a result, the lives of MSM are characterized by denial, violence, and stigmatization,"said Sylvia Adebajo, a researcher at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Where people cannot live openly with their sexual orientation, the risk of HIV infection and the impact of AIDS are greatly enhanced. People may be too afraid to access HIV prevention or treatment services. This is compounded in places where human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are widespread. These violations include violence, vilification, arbitrary arrests, forced HIV tests, and discrimination.

Disproportionately high infection rates

Men who have sex with men are 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population, according to a recent study by Baral et. al. UNAIDS states that there is an urgent need to address the emerging and re- emerging epidemics of HIV and STIs among men who have sex with men, and transgender populations.

Yet, despite the disproportionate burden of HIV on MSM, most governments, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies have failed to consider the needs of MSM in regard to HIV and AIDS. As an example, Latin America only spends one percent of their total HIV spending on MSM while 25 percent of people infected are MSM.

Increased commitment and awareness

During the High Level meeting on AIDS in New York in June 2008, the Secretary General of the United Nations called on all countries to live up to their commitments to enact or enforce legislation outlawing discrimination against people living with HIV and members of vulnerable groups. He further called on countries to "pass laws" against homophobia.

Norway is working on the MSM and the broader LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexed) agenda with a human rights, gender and HIV perspective. That is why the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad organized a seminar in collaboration with key Norwegian civil society partners and Amfar, the Foundation for AIDS Research (http://www.amfar.org/) recently. The purpose of the seminar was to discuss what Norway can do to place MSM and HIV issues higher up on our own as well as our partners' agendas.

As a follow up to the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad have decided to establish a reference group comprising government and relevant civil society organizations in Norway addressing the broader LGBTI issues, including MSM and HIV, to inform international action. More information on concrete plans will follow after the group has had its first meeting in January 2009.