Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 17 2010:
A one-day consultative workshop on "Effective Promotional Approach to Male having sex with men (MSM), Drug users (IDU) and Female Drug Users (FIDUs) was jointly organised by the Social Awareness Service Organisation (SASO), India HIV-AIDS Alliance and Emanuel Hospital Association (EHA) today at the conference hall of the Hotel Classic, North AOC, Imphal.
The purpose of the workshop was to share learning and experiences of harassment and barriers of services to DUs, MSMs and FIDUs.
It also aimed at enhancing access to health care by community people and strengthening effective linkages among the civil society organisation, government organisations and non-governmental organisations, organizers said.
The workshop recommended for the formation of a core committee to pressurize the key decision of law enforcement department through multi prone approach at top brass level and key actors of CRT operational area.
Organisation of workshop of editors for mass sensitization, empowerment of CRT through formation of a coalition of district level CRTs, provision of training/awareness on Right to Information (RTI) Act, application of RTI effectively in terms of effective service delivery/gaps etc.
and advocacy to civil society organisations also recommended among others.
The workshop was participation by various media persons, Crisis Response Team (CRT) members from Imphal east, west, Chandel, Thoubal, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, district AIDs prevention and control unit (DAPCU), CADA, Lawyers Collective and NGO leaders.
The issue of harassment to MSM, Drug User communities was shared by the CRT members such as rape, extortion, sitgma and discrimination and limitation/barriers of service available at service Centre of government and NGOs.