GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – A national consultation aimed at furthering the process of eliminating stigma and discrimination in the Caribbean HIV’s response by 2015 gets underway here today.
It is being held under the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV & AIDS (PANCAP) “Justice for All Programme” that builds on initiatives and a number of outcomes from activities undertaken by the United Nation agencies, the Futures Group, Caribbean HIV and AIDS Alliance, among others.
PANCAP is a regional partnership established by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders in 2001 to respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean.
According to the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat, the consultation, which will be attended by a cross-section of stakeholders including parliamentarians, faith-based organizations, the private sector and youth, provides a forum for the community conversations around establishing and sustaining equal opportunities regardless of race, religion, class, gender, among others.
“In this context, the Guyana consultation will contribute to the development of a Caribbean roadmap. The roadmap will outline a menu of measures to be taken by national governments in collaboration with regional entities, as it relates to increasing access to treatment, including affordable medicines; reducing gender inequalities, including violence against women, girls and children,” the Secretariat said.
The consultation in Guyana is the first in a series of similar conversations which will be held in the Caribbean, including in Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis later this month.
