returning home, but stepping back
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Returning home, but stepping back. Increasing access to sexual and reproductive health and HIV services for returnees in Rwanda and Burundi. Laurien NYABIENDA Executive Director ARBEF/RWANDA Refugees and Asylum Seekers and HIV: Deportation and Human Rights Violations. 20 July 2010 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
From choice, a world of possibilities
Returning home, but stepping backIncreasing access to sexual and reproductive health and HIV services for returnees in Rwanda and Burundi
Laurien NYABIENDAExecutive DirectorARBEF/RWANDA
Refugees and Asylum Seekers and HIV: Deportation and Human Rights Violations.20 July 201014:30-16:00
SOCIO-POLITICAL BACKGROUND
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
THE ISSUE Re-settlement communities are marked by a lack
of livelihood opportunities, weak social networks, and unmet needs for SRH and HIV services Only 2% of respondents in Rwanda reported
importance of condom use for HIV prevention;
Yet, returnees often overlooked by humanitarian organizations
Providing them with SRH and HIV services required an urgent and holistic approach to service delivery
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
THE INITIATIVE IPPF Member Associations in Rwanda (ARBEF) and
Burundi (ABUBEF) took up the task in 2007 and 2008
Aim: to increase returnees’ access to HIV and SRHR information and services
Approach: community mobilisation, active integration of HIV and SRH services, and strategic partnerships
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
ACTIVITIESBURUNDI
Training of peer educators
Awareness and IEC sessions
Training of health care workers
Provision of VCT, STI management and family planning
Referral for ART and care
Formation of women’s groups
RWANDA Training of peer
educators Awareness and IEC
sessions New maternity ward Provision of VCT, STI
management, family planning, OI treatment and ANC
Referral for IGA and nutritional support
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (1) Uptake of SRH and HIV services
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (2) Increased openness about HIV and STIs
“I am able to talk to my children and wife – without shame - about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases…” Male peer educator (aged 50), Burundi
Reduced stigma and discrimination against PLHIV More people openly living with HIV Faith-based and community leaders’ actions
against stigma and discrimination
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (3) Reductions in domestic violence and increased
gender equality (Rwanda)
Kageyo Ndego Bukora0
10
20
30
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50
60
70
BeforeAfter
Reported Violence against Women(%)
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
“Being beaten was part of our custom, it was even believed to be a sign that our husbands cared, but now we know better.”
Head of the women’s association (aged 44), Kageyo, Rwanda
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
Key challenges Socio-economic, cultural and religious barriers
Lack of organisations among returnees
Geographic accessibility
Scarcity of land
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
RECOMMENDATIONS: Policy Acknowledge returnees as a vulnerable
population in HIV policies and programmes
Long-term goal needs to be re-integration into existing communities, rather than re-settlement areas
Create a conducive policy environment – and political will – for addressing gender-based violence
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
RECOMMENDATIONS: Programming Ensure a holistic and sustainable approach to
the long-term needs of returning refugees
Building in processes for community strengthening, as well as community mobilization
Use health interventions as an entry point to address wider development needs
International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010
“Now we always have the strength to work hard, confident that we can afford our children’s
needs…”Frida (44 years old)
With thanks to…
Japan Trust Fund for HIV and AIDS