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After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
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Media Campaign on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights in Bangladesh - Bangladesh

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The Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum-BMSF (Human Rights Journalists Forum of Bangladesh) has established a programme to encourage media personnel in Bangladesh to reflect on issues of stigma and discrimination faced by people living with AIDS (PLWA). BMSF has organised a series of interactive meetings among media personnel, representatives from civil society organisations, human rights activists, and others to consider the role they might play in impacting the image of vulnerable communities in Bangladesh. Specifically, the purpose of the project is to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS-related human rights issues by fostering positive, responsive media coverage.
Communication Strategies
Interactive meetings bring together people who might have an impact on public perception of PLWA. Participants, which number 214 to date, include media personnel, lawyers, human rights activists, representatives from women's advocacy groups and vulnerable communities, personnel from care and support organisations, government representatives, and health services representatives. National-level media personnel and HIV/AIDS experts facilitate the meetings, which are designed to foster the development of HIV/AIDS and human rights media action/advocacy groups.

Topics include regional and global HIV/AIDS issues, analysis of vulnerable communities (PLWA), legal and ethical issues related to these communities, and the role of the media in protecting and promoting HIV/AIDS-related human rights.
Development Issues
HIV/AIDS, Rights, Media.
Key Points
According to organisers, Bangladesh still has a relatively low prevalence of HIV/AIDS. This is why, they say, now is the right time to try to create a supportive environment for vulnerable communities. Stigma and discrimination is a major problem for these communities, they say. They point to poor health facilities and social taboo.
Partners

The project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government of Bangladesh, CARE-Bangladesh, and the Bandhu Social Welfare Society.

Sources

Posting to GENDER-AIDS eForum 2003 dated June 10 2003 (gender-aids@healthdev.net); and letter from Khairuzzaman Kamal to The Communication Initiative dated June 21 2003.