Annual Reports 2005

Returning home, but stepping backIncreasing access to sexual and reproductive health and HIV services for returnees in Rwanda and BurundiLaurien NYABIENDAExecutive DirectorARBEF/RWANDA

Refugees and Asylum Seekers and HIV: Deportation and Human Rights Violations.20 July 201014:30-16:00From choice, a world of possibilitiesSOCIO-POLITICAL BACKGROUNDInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010

2THE ISSUE Re-settlement communities are marked by a lack of livelihood opportunities, weak social networks, and unmet needs for SRH and HIV servicesOnly 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 deliveryInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 20103THE INITIATIVEIPPF 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 partnershipsInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 20104How sure are we that this statement is correct? Are organisations like FHI or MSI also not operational in Rwanda and Burundi? If we are not 100% confident that this is correct, we should probably not state it in front of a global audience!

I have taken it of the slide for now, but happy for it be re-inserted if we are sure this is the case.ACTIVITIESBURUNDITraining of peer educatorsAwareness and IEC sessionsTraining of health care workersProvision of VCT, STI management and family planningReferral for ART and careFormation of womens groups

RWANDATraining of peer educatorsAwareness and IEC sessionsNew maternity wardProvision of VCT, STI management, family planning, OI treatment and ANCReferral for IGA and nutritional supportInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 20105

International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 20106KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (1)Uptake of SRH and HIV services

International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 20107We currently have very limited data re. the number of people reached with HIV and SRH services. It woudl be great if ABUBEF could fill in the gaps!KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (2)Increased openness about HIV and STIsI 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 PLHIVMore people openly living with HIVFaith-based and community leaders actions against stigma and discriminationInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 20108KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (3)Reductions in domestic violence and increased gender equality (Rwanda)Reported Violence against Women(%)International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 20109Being 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 womens association (aged 44), Kageyo, Rwanda

International AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010Key challengesSocio-economic, cultural and religious barriers

Lack of organisations among returnees

Geographic accessibility

Scarcity of landInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 201011RECOMMENDATIONS: PolicyAcknowledge 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 violenceInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 2010 12RECOMMENDATIONS: ProgrammingEnsure 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 needsInternational AIDS Conference| Vienna, 18-23 July 201013Now we always have the strength to work hard, confident that we can afford our childrens needsFrida (44 years old)

With thanks toJapan Trust Fund for HIV and AIDS