Media Archives - India HIV/AIDS Alliance

Dialogue on health, human rights and policy for transgender people in India

The annual Hijra Habba event is India HIV/AIDS Alliance’s bold statement of visibility, solidarity and advocacy with Transgender and Hijra community. The term transgender encompasses varied gender identities like aravanis, kothis, jogatas/jogappa

Inclusion – All citizens equal

Delhiites show understanding and compassion, as they get included into the talented, multidimensional world of transgenders and Hijras. The 5th annual “Hijra Habba” resonated with its theme of “Inclusion- All citizens equal”

We Count – Standing up for those that matter

New Delhi- “It’s time for each of us to step up for human rights. There is no action that is too small: wherever you are, you can make a difference. Together, let’s take a stand for more humanity.” – Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High

Commemorating World AIDS Day – Leadership Awards that celebrated emerging leadership and saluted the established

New Delhi- In observance of World AIDS Day 2016 on December 1st, India HIV/AIDS Alliance, with the partnership of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), UNDP and UNAIDS organized a Leadership Awards to recognize advocates and leaders from commu

Sonal Mehta is the New Chief Executive of Alliance India

India HIV/AIDS Alliance’s Board of Directors selected Sonal Mehta as the organisation’s next Chief Executive, succeeding James Robertson who has served in the role since 2010. With almost three decades of experience in HIV, sexual health and deve

National meeting highlights priorities for government to protect transgender rights and health

Dialogue between government and community acknowledges urgent attention needed to protect India’s estimated one million transgender and hijra citizens Friday, 2 September 2016; New Delhi: Transgender and hijra community leaders from across the cou

Global Fund Executive Director Visits Alliance India

New Delhi — Dr Mark Dybul, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, visited India HIV/AIDS Alliance to learn more about our Vihaan care & support programme’s eMpower mobile application developed in co

Alliance India Prepares for Departure of CEO

New Delhi — India HIV/AIDS Alliance today announced that Chief Executive Officer James Robertson has notified the Board of Directors that he plans to step down by July, concluding six years in the role. The Board has initiated the process of appoi

Parliamentarians join hands to strengthen India’s HIV response

New Delhi (November 30, 2015): In observance of World AIDS Day 2015 on December 1st, parliamentarians from across party lines came together today in the capital to enhance India’s HIV response. Organised by the National Coalition of People Li

Priya Dutt joins hands with gay rights activists to show solidarity against discrimination

New Delhi (August 19, 2015): The 3rd National Solidarity Event saw gay rights activists across India come together to consolidate efforts towards the realization of health and human rights for the LGBT community. Policy makers, social welfare offic

Remembering Dr Suniti Solomon, a Pioneer in India’s HIV Response

New Delhi, July 28, 2015 – Dr Suniti Solomon, the Founding Director of YRG CARE and a board member of India HIV/AIDS Alliance passed away peacefully this morning in Chennai. Dr Solomon’s experience covered a wide range of areas related to HIV/AID

Our identity creates obstacles for us: Transgender activists

July 4, 2015; New Delhi: For the transgender (TG) and Hijra communities, visibility is the biggest challenge as it invites derision and discrimination from people and compounds their problems. This sentiment was echoed by the representatives of the

Visibility is our biggest challenge, say transgender activists

Jul 03, 2015; New Delhi: For the transgender (TG) and Hijra communities, visibility is the biggest challenge as it invites derision and discrimination from people and compounds their problems. This sentiment was echoed by the representatives of the

At Transgender Meet, Minister Says BJP Against Bias on Basis of Sexual Orientation

July 2, 2015; New Delhi: In an attempt to create a broader platform for issues affecting the transgender community in India, the Delhi-based India HIV/AIDS Alliance organised the Third National Hijra Habba 2015 in New Delhi on June 30. The event wa

Hundreds of hijras and transgenders push for full access to health, education and employment opportunities

Hundreds of hijras and transgenders push for full access to health, education and employment opportunities New Delhi (June 30, 2015): More than 350 hijras and transgenders across the country came together at the third National Hijra Habba to advoca

Delhi joins the Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action for better drug policies that prioritise public health and human rights.

Citizens take to the streets to protest current drug policies and call for an end to the senseless criminalization of drug users New Delhi (June 26, 2015): Participants from across New Delhi came together to be a part of the global ‘Support. Don’

Ban Ki-moon: Anti-sodomy laws ‘breed intolerance’

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday reaffirmed his opposition to laws that criminalize homosexuality. “I staunchly oppose the criminalization of homosexuality,” said Ban during an event in the Indian capital of New Delhi that marked the

The Unending Nightmare Of Section 377

On the intervening night of 3 and 4 November 2013, while the rest of the country geared up to celebrate Diwali, the lives of 14 individuals in Hassan, Karnataka turned upside down. The Karnataka Police charged these 14 health workers, who identifie

Rallying against violence, discrimination, abuse

The December 11 verdict has made our already vulnerable community even more vulnerable to violence at the hands of police. I was threatened and assaulted so badly for being gay that I have lost the ability to hear from my right ear,” said one of

First Anniversary of India’s Gay Sex Ban: LGBT community gathers to protest human rights violations

India HIV/AIDS Alliance held a public hearing on increase in violence and discrimination cases against sexual minorities since the Section 377 verdict in 2013. New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India recriminalised same-sex sexual behaviour on 11 Dec

No Going Back: It’s time to give LGBT Indians their rights back

India HIV/AIDS Alliance holds a public hearing on violence and discrimination cases against sexual minorities since Section 377 verdict in 2013 The Supreme Court of India re-criminalised same-sex sexual behaviour on 11 December 2013. The consequenc

Harsh laws stifling India’s HIV response: Experts

“Unsafe injection practices along with low condom use are putting people who inject drugs at dual risk for HIV. We can only successfully intervene and reach those vulnerable and most at risk if we proactively address existing legal and policy

Harsh drug laws undermine India’s HIV response

New Delhi: A national consultation was held in New Delhi today to discuss the emerging challenges faced by India’s drug-using communities. Harsh laws, policies and practices that punish drug users only perpetuate the harms of drug use, and there

Harsh Drug Laws Undermine India’s HIV Response

A national consultation was held in New Delhi today to discuss the emerging challenges faced by India’s drug-using communities. Harsh laws, policies and practices that punish drug users only perpetuate the harms of drug use, and there is increasin

It’s time we talk about LGBT rights

New Delhi: In India, far too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people live lives of secrecy and shame. Those who reveal their sexual identities or deviate from gender norms face social rejection, economic marginalization, and phys

India’s AIDS department merger angers activists

Activists are concerned about the Indian Government’s decision to merge its AIDS control and health and welfare departments. Shaleen Rakesh, director of technical support at India HIV/AIDS Alliance, said: “We are concerned about how this wil

Govt. to merge Department of AIDS Control with Health Ministry

In a move that has shocked several AIDS experts in the country the Health Ministry has decided to merge the Department of AIDS Control (DAC) with the main Ministry. This decision comes a month after the Health Minister’s controversial statements

Roll back decision to close down the Department of AIDS Control

New Delhi: A shocked community of AIDS experts in the country have severely condemned the decision of the Government of India, to close down the Department of AIDS Control (DAC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This decision comes a month af

India HIV/AIDS Alliance at the 20th International AIDS Conference

Melbourne, Australia: India HIV/AIDS Alliance will be at the 20th International AIDS conference to highlight how vulnerable and marginalised populations most at risk of the HIV epidemic remain stigmatised, discriminated against and criminalised. As

Breaking The Binary

The Supreme Court of India recognised the rights of a two million-strong community that has long been relegated to a life of scorn and humiliation: the transgenders.

India Supreme Court agrees to reconsider sodomy ruling

The Indian Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would consider a motion to reconsider last December’s controversial ruling that recriminalized homosexuality in the South Asian country.

Gay plea in SC to cite third gender verdict

New Delhi: Senior counsel Anand Grover will move an application on Monday before the Chief Justice of India seeking to take into account the recent Supreme Court judgment creating the “third gender” status for transgenders while conside

Transgender community celebrates its recognition as third gender

New Delhi: The transgender community celebrated victory in New Delhi on Sunday as the Supreme Court recognised ‘transgender’ as a third gender.This article appeared in ANI news, World News Network, The Indian Republic and India Inter

Need equal rights for all gender minorities: Transgenders

New Delhi: On December 12 last year, after the Supreme Court set aside a High Court order decriminalising gay sex between consenting adults, activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, reaching out to members of the LGBT community, said they may be Lesbian, G

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals now wait for their turn

Hyderabad: The SC verdict, however, does not cover members of other sexual orientations including lesbians, gays and bisexuals.This article appeared in World News Network.

‘Discrimination no longer my favorite word… finally, we have a foot in the door’

New Delhi: Right to have family by marrying each other, adopt children. This article appeared in Lockerdome, and News Wits.

In order, court cites ‘new social needs’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday ruled transgenders would from now on be treated as a third gender, which is neither male nor female.

No more invisible: Hijras celebrate new ‘weapon’

New Delhi: “We have been given a weapon to defend ourselves,” Simran Shaikh, a hijra activist of India HIV/AIDS Alliance, said about the SC judgment which has made the third gender official.This article appeared in 24dunia, Samachar and

India’s LGBT Community: Don’t Vote BJP

India’s LGBT community is calling on members to come together during national elections to try to defeat the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “In the absence of any clarification from the party, we will assume that they are not supportin

India Marks 10 Years Of Cost-Free ART Program

New Delhi: “India completed 10 years of the free antiretroviral treatment (ART) program for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, now covering 768,000 people. This article appeared in Kaiser Family Foundation news.

Govt HIV treatment programme completes 10 years

New Delhi: India completed 10 years of the free anti-retroviral treatment (ART) programme for Human Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients, now covering 768,000 people. This article appeared in Aids portal, Biz News and Yahoo Groups.

Marking a Decade of Free Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in India

New Delhi: More than 300 stakeholders from government, affected communities, media, international agencies, and civil society came together today to mark the completion of 10 years of free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in India. This article app

Marking a decade of free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in India

New Delhi: More than 300 stakeholders from government, affected communities, media, international agencies, and civil society came together today to mark the completion of 10 years of free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in India. The event – Treat

HIV patients fatally shy from TB testing, treatment

New Delhi: A health expert said TB testing is vital for HIV patients. The twin stigma of TB and HIV often keeps people away from visiting clinics to learn about their TB status, he added. This article appeared in Business Standard, IBN7, The Heal

Early TB Testing is Vital for an Effective AIDS Response

New Delhi: World TB Day is observed every year on March 24th. To mark this occasion, India HIV/AIDS Alliance joins the Department of AIDS Control (DAC) and the Central TB Division (CTD)…This article appeared in The Telegraph, Zee News, Medici

Alliance to create awareness about TB

New Delhi: Alliance has joined the Department of AIDS Control (DAC) and the Central TB Division (CTD) for creating awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). This ar

Early TB testing is vital for an effective AIDS response: Government and civil society come together to reinforce this pledge on World TB Day

New Delhi: World TB Day is observed every year on March 24th. To mark this occasion, India HIV/AIDS Alliance joins the Department of AIDS Control (DAC) and the Central TB Division (CTD) in creating awareness about the importance of early detection

207 against 377’: Building momentum against Supreme Court judgement recriminalizing same-sex behaviour

New Delhi: More than 100 community stakeholders and activists came together today for a national consultation on Section 377 and the launch of Pehchan’s new advocacy campaign, ‘207 against 377’. The ‘207 against 377’ campaign initiated by Pehc

SC verdict will lead to discrimination, violence, say activists

New Delhi: As the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a law banning same-gender sex, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community said they were now vulnerable to “discrimination and violence”.

Freedom curbed, courage sapped, hope crushed, gay couples stare at uncertain future

New Delhi: Holding hands, Arun* and Vijay now share an uncertain future. The law of the land has deemed their status as a couple illegal.

Indian Court Reinstates Law Banning Gay Sex

New Delhi: India’s Supreme Court Wednesday overturned a lower court’s ruling that had decriminalized gay sex, a disappointing surprise setback for the gay-rights movement in this largely conservative country.

Court in India criminalizes homosexuality

New Delhi: India’s Supreme Court overturned a historic lower-court decision on homosexuality Wednesday, making gay sex a crime in the world’s most populous democracy, with violators facing up to 10 years in prison.

Brushed aside: medical evidence, verdict a blow to AIDS prevention efforts, say experts

New Delhi: The Supreme Court order upholding a 153-year-old law that effectively criminalises gay sex has ignored scientific evidence that homosexuality is not deviant in any sense, but merely a variation in human sexual behaviour, experts and law

Protecting rights of people who use drugs in India

New Delhi: Worldwide an estimated 16 million people inject drugs, and three million of them are living with HIV. In India, HIV prevalence in this group is 24-times that of the general population. Though progress has been made, the HIV epidemic cont

Delhi: Transgender voters fight hard, demand they be treated equally

New Delhi: It is a forgotten community and an almost forgotten vote bank, but nearly 1 lakh transgenders will be voting in Delhi on December 4. They have just one basic demand, that is to be treated equally.

Injecting drug users most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS

According to the latest report by the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), while HIV prevalence in India among the general population stands at 0.40 per cent, HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs is as high as 7.17 per cent.

On HIV: Those slipping through the cracks

Bangkok, Thailand : It was a conference where the number zero was the hero – or at least, the target.

In the shadows no longer

Backstage at the ramp walk and dance performance by transgender and hijra community members at the second national Hijra Habba in Delhi, two participants await their turn in the spotlight.

Hijra Habba celebrates transgender identities, advocates equality

November 15, 2013, New Delhi: More than 200 stakeholders from government, media, international agencies, transgender and hijra communities, and civil society came together today for the second National Hijra Habba to promote social justice and empo

Transgenders demand equality, rights

New Delhi: Demanding social justice and empowerment, a group of transgenders from all over the country interacted with government stakeholders, media and international agencies here Friday.This article appeared in Zee News.

Hijra Habba celebrates transgender identities, advocates equality

New Delhi: More than 200 stakeholders from government, media, international agencies, transgender and hijra communities, and civil society came together today for the second National Hijra Habba to promote social justice and empowerment for transge

Orchids Bloom: Best practices on harm reduction shared

Learnings from Project ORCHID’s pioneering work on harm reduction in northeast India shows that scale up is possible even in resource poor and conflict ridden settings.

Hijra Farsi: Secret language knits community

Mumbai: It’s not often that one stumbles upon a secret language floating around the streets of a busy Indian metropolis, least of all a language that has been alive-and-kicking across the sub-continent for a century or two.

Transgender activist, Abhina Aher speaks out

Transgender activist Abhina Aher talks about her journey from being a boy to a woman, her work for the HIV-positive transgender people and The Dancing Queens, the LGBT dance troupe she founded.

HIV/AIDS activism helps the marginalized emerge from shadows in India

New Delhi: Khushi Kumari had long kept her sexuality a secret, living alone like many of this sprawling city’s gay, lesbian and transgender residents.

The inner world of Kinnars

Friday was different. In a small corner of the town, sixty different people gathered for a really momentous meet.

‘Even transgenders are entitled to protection by State’

I want to feel safe while I walk down the street. I want men to realize that it is not OK or acceptable to pass lewd comments on me and that I am protected from verbal abuse by law.

The Global ‘War on Drugs’ Kills: Legal Reform Needed

New Delhi: Worldwide an estimated 16 million people inject drugs, and three million of them are living with HIV. In India, HIV prevalence in this group is 24-times that of the general population. Though progress has been made, the HIV epidemic cont

Pehchan: Identifying Transgender and MSM issues in untouched Bihar, UP

In an ICTC [An information, counselling, and testing centre] in Uttar Pradesh, transgender clients are treated with rudeness and disdain – they are like outcastes among the already stigmatised persons living with HIV.

Run to create awareness about AIDS

New Delhi: A large number of people from all over the country came together in the Capital on Sunday to take part in a community run to raise awareness about the continued support needed to address the prevalence of HIV among high-risk groups.

1,000 run in support of HIV-positive

New Delhi: Nearly thousand people, including transgenders, sex workers and HIV positive people, ran for over three kilometres on Sunday in south Delhi to create awareness and to support HIV-positive people.

Affected Communities Run to Show Solidarity on World AIDS Day

December 3, 2012, New Delhi : Celebrities, Government Representatives, Activists, Students and Supporters From all Walks of Life Observed World AIDS Day

Hundreds show support to the HIV+

New Delhi: Nearly a thousand people, including transgenders, sex workers and HIV-positive people, ran for over three kilometres on Sunday in south Delhi to create awareness and to support HIV-positive people.

Run for cause of HIV-affected people

New Delhi: India may have managed to reduce HIV infections by 50 per cent in the past decade, but support to the community is still to pick up keeping in mind the social stigma attached to it.

New Delhi runs a marathon on World AIDS Day

New Delhi,: Residents of New Delhi, from all walks of life, took part in a marathon on Sunday, a day after World AIDS Day was observed across the country.

Nearly 1,000 run in support of the HIV-positive

New Delhi: Nearly thousand people, including transgenders, sex workers and HIV positive people, ran for over three kilometres Sunday in south Delhi to create awareness and to support HIV-positive people.

Affected Communities Run to Show Solidarity on World AIDS Day

New Delhi: Celebrities, government representatives, activists, students and supporters from all walks of life observed World AIDS Day this year with a run to promote equality, justice and empowerment among marginalized communities that are affected

Cross out HIV Stigma

AIDS continues to be a word that generates more anxiety than awareness. Stigma against those living with HIV/AIDS remains the grim reality.

Advocacy initiatives for people living with HIV/AIDS

Coimbatore : Around 70 people participated in the advocacy meeting for women living with HIV/AIDS and transgenders, organised by Palmyrah Workers Development Society (PWDS) …

Rights of HIV victims are violated: study

Madurai: Cervical cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women but it is easily and treatable, and women affected by AIDS are more prone to cervical cancer — five times more than normal women.

Serving with a smile

Issue The startling spread of HIV/AIDS pandemic to newer areas has caught the Government unawares.

A society in denial: Ghosts who live among us, demand basic rights

With the loss of their traditional role in Indian society, hijras find themselves marginalised at every step.

Serving with a Smile

The startling spread of HIV/AIDS pandemic to newer areas has caught the Government unawares.

VMM to the aid of people living with HIV

Vijaywada: Empowering the common man to be able to demand their right from Government will be our main aim said Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM) Secretary G. Reshma on Thursday.

From Bar Dancer to NGO Worker

New Delhi: Over a decade ago, a 14-year-old Parsi boy ran away from his home in Dadar Parsi Colony in Mumbai as his parents did not accept the fact that he was gay.

How Healthy Are The healthcare Settings for Transgender or Hijra people?

The transgender, ‘hijra’ or ‘kinnar’ community is visible as usually its members can be spotted easily by way of their attire and mannerisms. This article appeared in World News Network, South Asia Mail Weekly, Modern Ghana

The Third Gender Does Not Deserve A Third Grade Treatment

Raveena Bariha, the fire brand graduate tribal hijra activist from Chhattisgarh (a relatively backward state of India) is lovingly called the chhota bomb and chhota rocket.

Third gender option in varsity forms

Mumbai: Abheena Aher’s graduation and post-graduation certificates refer to her as a ‘male’. The 35-year-old transgender activist, who completed her post-graduation in Mumbai, didn’t have a choice.

Landmark meet on sexual minorities: National Hijra Habba Consultation

Pehchan, in association with India HIV/AIDS Alliance, recently organized a national consultation, aptly called Hijra Habba (Habba is a Kannada word meaning festival), in Delhi…

Come together right now, over me

Violence against trasngenders is routinised. “It begins at our own homes from biological family members, relatives, neighbours; in educational institutions and the friend circle,” says Akkai Padmashali from Sangama in Bangalore.

India Third Gender Community Demands Social Equality and Its Own Passport Designation

New Delhi: On Saturday, members of India’s transgender and hijra community convened in New Delhi for the first Hijra Habba in order to discuss ways to ameliorate the persistent discrimination that marginalizes Indian transgenders.

Health system gives eunuch community the go-by

While the country’s health system, schemes and officials are still unfriendly to the members of the transgender (TG) and the eunuch community, a different gender definitely not by their own choice has pushed them to the status of being a marg

IGNOU opens doors to hijra, transgender communities

Now they can go for any distance learning course at the varsity. Education will not be a far fetched dream for transgender and hijra communities any more as IGNOU has opened admissions for distance education in all streams even for the “other

National Hijra Habba (India, 2012): Eunuchs demand equality, special privileges

New Delhi: Members from the transgender and eunuch community Saturday came together, demanding equality and special privileges for themselves to live with dignity in society.

Hijras advocate for equality, celebrate Hijra Habba

New Delhi: Stakeholders from government, media, policy bodies, the transgender and hijra community, and civil society came together today for the first National Hijra Habba. The event was organised by Pehchan, a five-year programme that strengthens

India’s shunned transgenders struggle to survive

Seema, a husband and father of two, gets ready for another night of work on the streets of the Indian capital, placing two halves of a yellow sponge ball into empty bra cups.

Transgender community demands civil, not special, rights

New Delhi: “Is it a sin to be born a hijra?” asked Sita, a member of the transgender community, narrating her story of pain and trauma at a public hearing on “Social Inclusion and Access to Justice to Transgender Community” here on Saturday.

Pehchān welcomes Government of India stand on the decriminalisation of homosexuality

New Delhi: Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Indians welcome the stand taken by the government in the Supreme Court on the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Attorney-general G. E. Vahanvati’s statement on March 21, 2012, has generated both

New computerized information system strengthens groundbreaking HIV prevention efforts for MSM and transgenders

New Delhi: To support its ambitious HIV prevention efforts with men who have sex with men (MSM), transgenders and hijras across India, the Pehchān programme launched a new Computerized Management Information System (CMIS) on 15th December at a nat

India HIV/AIDS Alliance disappointed with Supreme Court decision to re-criminalize consensual sexual behaviour between adults of the same sex

New Delhi: India HIV/AIDS Alliance (Alliance India) is deeply disappointed with the decision of the Supreme Court to set aside the historic Delhi High Court judgment of 2009 that read-down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and ruled that sexual