Chisinau, 06.03.2012

Strengthening Moldovan Civil Society Organisations in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care for Women and Juvenile Prisoners

Most people are afraid to touch or to talk to a person infected with HIV. If this person is serving a judicial sentence, the fear to communicate becomes even greater. Other prisoners, penitentiary employees, relatives, friends and even family are afraid to contact this person.

In addition to the problems caused by the disease, HIV-positive people face daily manifestations of intolerance, sometimes primitive, that are caused by insufficient information and education within the penitentiary community.

In this context, the International Society for Human Rights – Moldavian Section (ISHR-MS) in partnership with Pro NGO! e.V. (Germany) is implementing the project “Strengthening Moldovan civil society organisations in HIV/AIDS prevention and care for women and juvenile prisoners”. The project is financed by the European Union under the thematic programme “Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI):  Investing in People - Good health for all”, which provided a grant of EUR 414,025 out of the total project budget of EUR 517,531. The implementation period is 24 months.

The project will contribute to the protection of human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, eradication of punitive laws, gender inequality and discrimination. The changes achieved as a result of the project will make HIV/AIDS a priority at the political level and will ensure policy level sustainability.

The project activities will be directed especially at supporting women and juvenile prisoners and ex-prisoners. Besides information, these people will receive psychological, social and humanitarian assistance in solving HIV/AIDS problems, in strengthening family relations and searching a job. Children and relatives will visit women and juvenile prisoners, will be encouraged to contact their HIV/AIDS imprisoned relatives and keep family relations.

HIV/AIDS ex-prisoners will be trained and will get a new profession or artistic craft, will receive social and psychological assistance to enter the labour market and reduce poverty.

The German partner Hans Born (Pro NGO! e.V.) said that all project beneficiaries will be informed about the European good practices and will be trained in HIV/AIDS prevention, human rights and human dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS.

The action will develop and sustain NGOs advocacy capacity, will enable them to actively engage in dialogue with the authorities on HIV/AIDS policies.

Representatives of the Moldovan authorities will be trained in providing a larger spectrum of qualitative services for people living with HIV/AIDS, prisoners and ex-prisoners; in developing measures to combat stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS in local communities.

The project coordinator Dr. Liubov Nemcinova mentioned that as a result of the project, partnership between NGOs, local public authorities, central authorities and Parliament on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care will be strengthened.

The ISHR-MS will inform and cooperate with the central and local authorities. The Moldovan authorities will know more about the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, about the international best practices that will help realize the rights of these people

For more information:
www.ngo-at-work.org
www.ishr.md

Contact person :
Dr. Liubov Nemcinova, project coordinator
e-mail: nemcinova@yahoo.com
Tel./fax: (+ 373 22) 43 33 27, 45 03 80