Press Release Archives - India HIV/AIDS Alliance

Press Release: The Launch of Faith For Harm Reduction Manual (Oct 19, 2020)

On 23 October 2020, at 11.30 am, Alliance India, together with URI, Parmath Niketan and UNOICT is launching the Training Module for sensitising Faith-Based Communities on Health and Rights-Based Approach to Drug Use. Strengthening Harm Reduction I

Dialogue on health, human rights and policy for transgender people in India (Jun 27, 2019)

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 (Sep 22, 2017)

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 (Dec 10, 2016)

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 (Nov 30, 2016)

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 (Oct 1, 2016)

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 (Sep 2, 2016)

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 (Feb 15, 2016)

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 (Feb 5, 2016)

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 (Nov 30, 2015)

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 (Aug 19, 2015)

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 (Jul 28, 2015)

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

Hundreds of hijras and transgenders push for full access to health, education and employment opportunities (Jun 30, 2015)

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. (Jun 26, 2015)

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’

First Anniversary of India’s Gay Sex Ban: LGBT community gathers to protest human rights violations (Dec 11, 2014)

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 (Dec 9, 2014)

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 drug laws undermine India’s HIV response (Nov 19, 2014)

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

It’s time we talk about LGBT rights (Oct 20, 2014)

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

Roll back decision to close down the Department of AIDS Control (Aug 13, 2014)

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 (Jul 20, 2014)

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

Marking a decade of free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in India (Apr 7, 2014)

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

Early TB testing is vital for an effective AIDS response: Government and civil society come together to reinforce this pledge on World TB Day (Mar 24, 2014)

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 (Feb 6, 2014)

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

Protecting rights of people who use drugs in India (Dec 10, 2013)

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

Hijra Habba celebrates transgender identities, advocates equality (Nov 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 empowerment for transge

The Global ‘War on Drugs’ Kills: Legal Reform Needed (Jun 25, 2013)

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

Affected Communities Run to Show Solidarity on World AIDS Day (Dec 2, 2012)

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

Hijras advocate for equality, celebrate Hijra Habba (Jun 2, 2012)

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

Pehchān welcomes Government of India stand on the decriminalisation of homosexuality (Mar 28, 2012)

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 (Dec 15, 2011)

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 (Dec 11, 2011)

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

Pehchan marks World AIDS Day by celebrating community unity and action (Nov 29, 2011)

New Delhi : Organisations working with groups vulnerable to HIV/AIDS came together on 29 November at YMCA New Delhi for an event organised by the Pehchan programme to commemorate World AIDS Day 2011. ‘Pehchan’ literally means ‘identity,’ and th

A Call for Equality and Empowerment this World AIDS Day (Nov 28, 2011)

New Delhi: Celebrities, government and activists to show support for Pehchān programme to strengthen the HIV prevention in MSM, transgender and hijra communities in India This year, as the Indian response to HIV/AIDS marks a quarter century, the s

Renewing commitment to the future of the nation (Nov 12, 2010)

For 34-year old Prerna* in Tamil Nadu, her happiest moment in the last decade, since she has been living with HIV, has been to see her HIV positive child accepted back amongst his friends in the play ground. From being shunned for almost a year, th

Largest Global Fund grant for HIV prevention programming with MSM, hijra and transgender communities signed (Sep 8, 2010)

New Delhi: Professor Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, signed a US $25 million grant (115 crore rupees) with India HIV/AIDS Alliance, the largest Global Fund grant to date to strength