STRADH Gender and HIV policy · 2018. 10. 18. · The Rwanda National HIV&AIDS strategy 2013 –...

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STRADH Gender and HIV Policy

STRADH Policy on Gender and HIV&AIDS

September, 2015

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Table of contents Definition of key concepts 3 1. Background 4

2. Rationale, Objectives and Methodology 5

2.1 Rationale 5

2.2 Objectives 6

2.3 Methodology 7

3. Policy and Legal framework for Gender and HIV 7

3.1 At the International and Regional Level 7

3.2 At the National Level 7

3.3 National Institutional Context for Gender and HIV 9

3.4 STRADH framework 9

4. Ensuring a Gender and HIV Sensitive Human rights and development Services 9

4.1 Main Approaches 9

4.2 Guiding Principles 10

5. Key Actions for the Policy implementation 12

6. The policy implementation framework 14 6.1 The STRADH high level commitment (General Assembly and Board) 14

6.2 STRADH workers 14

7. Monitoring and evaluation of the policy 14

8. Indicators for the Monitoring, evaluation and learning system 15

Key references 16

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Definition of key concepts: Sex and gender: There are biological and social differences between men and women. The term “sex” refers to biologically determined differences, while the term “gender” refers to socially determined differences between men‟s and women‟s roles, behaviours, and opportunities, rather than biological differences between the two sexes.

HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that weakens the body‟s immune system, ultimately causing AIDS.

AIDS: The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a cluster of medical conditions, often referred to as opportunistic infections and cancers and for which , to date, there is no cure.

PLHA: People Living with HIV

Gender mainstreaming is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programs, in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy for making women‟s as well as men‟s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all policies and programs in all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. It is not an end in itself. The ultimate goal is to achieve gender equality.2

Mainstreaming HIV&AIDS internally involves managing HIV&AIDS in the workplaces. It is about changing organizational policy and practice in order to reduce the organization‟s susceptibility to HIV infection and vulnerability to the impacts of AIDS.

Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS externally refers to adapting development and humanitarian programme work in order to take into account susceptibility to HIV transmission and vulnerability to the impacts of AIDS. The focus is on core programme work in the changing context of the HIV and AIDS era.

Vulnerability refers to socio – economic disempowerment and cultural context, work situations that make workers more susceptible to the risk of infection and situation which put children at greater risk of being involved in child labour

Susceptibility to HIV infection: Likelihood of becoming infected by HIV. The word applies to both individuals and groups of people; so it can refer to the probability of an organization experiencing HIV infection among employees, or the likelihood of a society experiencing an HIV epidemic. Susceptibility is determined by the economic and social character of a society, relationship between groups, livelihood strategies, culture, and balance of power (particularly with regard to gender)

Vulnerability to the impacts of AIDS: Openness to negative consequences as a result of AIDS. It refers to the likelihood of suffering harm from the effects of sickness and death due to AIDS. It can be applied to individuals or to groups of people such as households, organizations, or societies. Vulnerability is made worse by poverty, fragmented social and family structures, and gender inequality.

Sexual and gender – based violence: Includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, such as non-consenting sexual acts, sex with a minor, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, domestic abuse, forced prostitution, and sexual harassment.

Sustainability is the continuation of benefits from a development intervention after major development assistance has been completed and the probability of continued long-term benefits.

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1. Background

The Workers „Union in the Service of Human Rights, STRADH is concerned by the realization of Human rights in respect with the gender and HIV&AIDS issues. The present policy takes into account the connection between these three domains. It is well known that women are more infected and affected by HIV and AIDS than men. According to the Rwanda National Plan on HIV&AIDS, the HIV prevalence is higher among women (3.7%) than in men (2.2%). This raises serious gender concerns. Gender inequality and human rights violations continue to put women and girls at greater risk of susceptibility to HIV and vulnerability to AIDS impacts and limit the full access to sexual and reproductive health services. In addition to biological susceptibility, a number of cultural, social, economic, and legal factors contribute to women

and girls‟ vulnerability to HIV infection. The incidence of gender-based violence is higher among women and girls, and

represents a fundamental violation of human rights. Women have limited say in sexual relationships with their

partners; for instance, the decision to use condoms is largely the prerogative of men. Cross generational sex has also

been noted among key factors facilitating the spread of HIV.

On the other hand, HIV&AIDS may render women even more susceptible to gender-based violence and

discrimination, since a woman who discloses her HIV-positive status may be subjected to blame, anger, and violence

from her sexual partner, the family and the community. Human rights violations and abuse have been registered to be

significantly higher within specific vulnerable groups and people living with and/or affected by HIV and many violation

and discrimination cases are not reported or – when reported – are not adequately addressed.

The Government of Rwanda has made significant efforts to ensure the respect and application of gender and non-discrimination principles through the Constitution ( Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 4th June 2003, as amended to date in its article 11), and has adopted the Gender and the HIV policies. Moreover, the Rwanda EDPRS II considers gender and HIV&AIDS as cross-cutting issues in key strategic and planning documents as well as in sector policies and plans. Despite the good legal and institutional national framework, there is a gap in relation to the level of empowerment

between the minority elite and employed women and the majority illiterate and the under privileged rural women.

According to the Rwanda National Gender Policy “… despite the progress made in the realization of national goals of

achieving gender equality, there are still constraints to overcome”.

STRADH through its program, SIPETRA, has observed that at the local level, women and girls gender disparities in

access to food and basic needs, to employment opportunities, household and workplace gender division of labour,

access to education opportunities and health information, young age as well as decision making autonomy are all

contributory factors towards their susceptibility to HIV infection.

Considering all the previous facts, STRADH recognizes that equal access to Human rights for all cannot be effectively promoted and achieved if critical issues related to gender inequalities; stigma and discrimination are not adequately addressed.

It is within such framework that the present guiding tool has been developed. The present policy document aims at

supporting STRADH in the process of mainstreaming gender and HIV into its policies, programs, plans, strategies and

actions.

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2. Rationale, Objectives and Methodology 2.1 Rationale The Rwanda National Policy on Gender adopted in 2010 underlines that the promotion of gender equality has not been sufficiently incorporated into sector development programmes. The policy notes that despite the progress made in the realization of national goals of achieving gender equality, there are still constraints to be overcome such as:

- Limited institutional instruments including policies, strategies, and plans for gender mainstreaming; - Limited capacities and technical skills in gender analysis and planning for effective gender mainstreaming in all development sectors including the public sector, private, and the civil society; - Resistance to behavior change and poor understanding of gender concept; - Limited skills for women to take technical jobs that are well paying; - Limited understanding of health related issues;

- Insufficient involvement of men in reproductive health and family planning; - Insufficient gender disaggregated data leading to weaknesses in advocacy for gender equality.

The Rwanda National HIV&AIDS strategy 2013 – 2018 stated the persistence of the HIV pandemic. The adult HIV prevalence rate is 3% and is concentrated in some high risk groups such as female sex workers and Men who have sex with men/male sex workers (MSM/MSW). The HIV prevalence is higher among women (3.7%) than in men (2.2%) and higher in Kigali city (7.3%) than in other provinces of the country (average of 2.4%). In details, the HIV and AIDS estimates (2014/UNAIDS) are as follows:

- Number of people living with HIV: 210,000 [190,000 - 230,000] - Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate: 2.8% [2.5% - 3.2%] - Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV: 190,000 [170,000 - 210,000] - Women aged 15 and up living with HIV: 120,000 [100,000 - 130,000] - Children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV: 22,000 [19,000 - 25,000] - Deaths due to AIDS: 3,000 [2,300 - 4,700] - Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17: 85,000 [58,000 - 140,000]

The Rwanda EDPRS II also has highlighted the need to enhance gender and HIV mainstreaming into sector planning as fundamental crosscutting issues.In the previous period, STRADH has conducted researches1 and implemented a program 2 for child labour and its trade union members. The findings and field data on gender and HIV&AIDS come up with the need to put in place a policy instead of planning and implementing punctual actions and activities on gender and HIV. The HIV & AIDS affects staff and program directly and indirectly because almost 20% of beneficiaries are HIV positive and are facing the livelihoods needs3.

Moreover, the STRADH self assessments on gender and HIV&AIDS4 identified the following weaknesses to be addressed:

- Lack of gender and HIV policies; - Lack of trained staff in gender and HIV; - Insufficient means for staff capacity building in gender and HIV; - Poor positive attitudes around gender and HIV at the workplace; - The age and low level of knowledge of the HIV transmission ways are among elements of HIV risks at the workplace

within STRADH. - According to the STRADH Coordinator, the most important component of a policy or program on HIV/AIDS is “ the

protection or promotion of staff and families living with HIV and providing them with full medical care”

1 Situation of children workers in Kigali streets, Nyarugenge district case, 2011; Do me justice too, 2014

2 A socio and economic reintegration program

3 Situation of children workers in Kigali streets, Nyarugenge district case, 2011

4 Summary of the workplace HIV&AIDS baseline report, April 2013; SIPETRA needs assessment report from the

Organization leader, April 2013

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In addition, the review of the context analysis of the STRADH strategic plan for 2016 – 2020 noted that it does not incorporate enough information on gender and HIV and the gender and HIV mainstreaming approach is not mentioned although there are few punctual activities under the crosscutting issues. That may mean that those issues are not important for the organization.

The present policy is also motivated by lessons learnt from the work done with child labours from 2002 within

SIPETRA program. Three important lessons are retained1:

i. Debates on HIV&AIDS, sexual and reproductive health by especially introducing topics on ways of transmitting HIV and any

other sexual transmitted diseases, family planning, when and how saying NO to sexual intercourse advances for young

adolescents, open session on questions-answers on taboo topics, expression of hostile feelings between parents and child-

mothers, and so on have been a space for expression, learning, demystifying taboos, reshaping individual esteem and a

time for thinking about other horizons;

ii. The experience from HIV joint screening test is unique for this category of children who, at their young age and victims of

worst forms of child labor, labor for gaining a daily living. As it is reflected in their interviews after HIV screening test, the

results incite a new step ahead to the future life. All of other onward initiatives including educational reintegration,

vocational training incentives, and initiatives for revenue generating, saving and credit tradition could be revived basing on

hopes in possible and sustainable future life;

iii. During training on HIV, young single mothers, have had tears in their eyes when expressing themselves on how they

were mistreated by their own parents. From there, it has come out that it is not enough to educate only children on their rights

but rather, it is important to include parents while teaching on child rights in order to increase their knowledge and stop

unexpected pregnancies, family conflict, assistance denial, school drop-out, child labour, sexual promiscuity,

marginalization, drug abuse, risks of HIV, etc.

Based on the above mentioned considerations, the STRADH strategic plan 2016-2020 considers gender and HIV as a crosscutting element: “Gender integration, fight against HIV&AIDS at workplace and against discriminations on vulnerable groups and minorities “. This policy is developed in alignment with the Rwanda National policies on gender and HIV and in consideration of the international guidelines and good practices as well as the STRADH vision and mission. It is intended to change or adapt existing policies and practices in STRADH by incorporating gender and HIV analysis and principles into its rules, procedures, approaches, strategies and plans as well as in its monitoring and evaluation system. STRADH will ensure the inclusiveness of men, women, girls and boys, people living with and/or affected by HIV among unionists, employees and child laborers as well as partners. STRADH engages to ensure finally that it is taking into account how its actions impact men, women, girls, boys, people living with HIV and groups with special needs and that it is not making decisions that may lead to unintended harm to individuals, communities and programme

2.2 Objectives The present policy aims at providing STRADH with guidance and support concerning the design and implementation of gender and HIV sensitive Human rights services. Specifically, the policy:

1) Presents the rationale for the relevance of gender and HIV&AIDS mainstreaming into STRADH interventions; 2) Provides tools constituting the legal and policy framework for the promotion of human rights, gender

1 Right to information on sexual, reproductive health and fight against HIV/AIDS: STRADH/SIPETRA approach towards the

realization of “access to health services for all”:case of child labor

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equality and non-discrimination related to HIV&AIDS; 3) Describes key approaches and guiding principles for an effective gender and HIV mainstreaming in

STRADH workplace and interventions; 4) Identifies key actions to managing gender and HIV&AIDS issues at the workplace and in STRADH interventions;

5) Offers a list of indicators for monitoring, evaluation and learning system.

2.3 Methodology The present document has been designed using research and analytical tools and adopting a participatory approach for the collection and analysis of information. Particularly, the main methodologies and tools used have been:

a) Literature review and analysis: including national policy documents and strategic plans, national and international legal instruments, international guidelines and manuals, SIPETRA and STRADH reports and publications;

b) Individual discussions with STRADH leaders: discussions contributed to highlighting the main elements and gaps related to gender, HIV and the provision of human rights and development services and offering insights and inputs on how to address them;

c) Group session with STRADH board members to collect meaningful elements for improving the quality of this document.

3. Policy and Legal framework for Gender and HIV

3.1 At the International and Regional Level Rwanda has joined the international community in its efforts to protect and promote human rights, especially by promoting gender equality in general and women‟s rights in particular. This has been illustrated by ratification of a series of international instruments, including but not limited to:

- the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW) in 1981; - the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948); - the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995; - the Millennium Development Goals, in 2000; - the New Partnership for Africa‟s Development (NEPAD) in 2001.

Moreover, Rwanda has signed protocols relating to human rights both at international and regional levels. They include, among others:

- The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women of 6 June 1999; - The Optional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People‟s Rights to Women‟s Rights in Africa approved and ratified through the Presidential Order n° 11/01 of 24 June 2004.

3.2 At the National Level The main national instruments concerning the promotion of gender equality and non-discrimination principles include:

The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda In its article 11, the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 4th June 2003 as amended to date stipulates that “all Rwandans are born free and equal in rights and duties. Discrimination of whatever kind based on (...) is prohibited and punishable by law”. The Constitution also provides for higher levels of representation to previously marginalized groups such as women, youth and people living with disability. This constitutional framework provides a quota of at least thirty percent (30%) for women in decision-making organs.

National legislation The following are some examples of already promulgated laws:

- The Penal Code (Decree-Law N° 21/77 of 18 August 1977) as amended to date represses offences related to the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. It also integrates repressive

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texts on the protection of the child against violence and exploitation; - Organic law n°08/2005 of 14/07/2005 determining the use and management of land in Rwanda; - The law n° 59/2008 of 10/09/2008 on Prevention and Punishment of Gender-Based Violence; - Law n° 27/2001 of 28/04/2001 relating to rights and protection of the child against violence; - Law n°22/99 of 12/11/1999 to supplement book one of the civil code part five regarding matrimonial regimes, liberalities and successions provides the same right of succession to girls and boys;

The Rwanda‟s legislation inspired policies and strategies that the country has put in place to ensure the promotion of human rights and gender equality. The policies and strategies include, among others:

Vision 2020

As Rwanda‟s development road map, Vision 2020 recognizes gender equality as a cross-cutting issue in all development-related policies, programmes and plans.

Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (EDPRS II) The EDPRS II process has maintained the emphasis on cross cutting issues, including social inclusion, HIV, environment, gender and youth, in order for all sectors to deliberately and actively include them in their strategic planning.

National Gender Policy The National Gender Policy constitutes a fundamental tool that facilitates the recognition and promotion of equal opportunities for women and men, boys and girls in every sector. The Policy calls for the effective integration of gender in the diverse areas of development.

National Policy and Law on Gender Based Violence (GBV) The overall objective of the policy is to progressively eliminate gender-based violence through the development of a preventive, protective, supportive and transformative environment, reducing the vulnerability levels and strengthening the capacities of individuals and groups more exposed at risk of GBV.

Rwanda National HIV&AIDS Strategic Plan 2013 – 2018 The Strategic Plan outlines six overarching principles and three of them are close to the present policy: - Equity and human rights: “In spite of the strong results achieved by Rwanda in the last decade in

addressing the HIV epidemic, issues of stigma and discrimination relating to the HIV epidemic are still persistent.”;

- Gender equity: “Following the findings of the recent gender assessment of Rwanda‟s national HIV response, the promotion of gender equity remains a priority orientation of the HIV response”;

- HIV integration/HIV mainstreaming: “The multi – sector integration of HIV in the wider national development agenda is ensured by the identification of HIV as cross – cutting issue within EDPRS 2. Each sector within EDPRS has specific HIV mainstreaming strategies and targets”

National Accelerated Plan for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV (2010-2014)

The Plan analyses the social, economic and legal factors that hinder the promotion of gender equality as well as HIV prevention and responsive programmes and calls for the effective development and implementation of national laws and policies that protect and promote the rights of women and girls in the context of HIV. The plan identifies also main actions to overcome factors which increase women and girls‟ vulnerability to HIV in Rwanda. 3.3 National Institutional Context for Gender and HIV

Given the consideration of the HIV pandemic and that the protection and the promotion of gender is a crosscutting issue, several ministries and other institutions are definitely concerned. Key institutions include:

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- The Ministry of Gender and Family promotion (MIGEPROF), which oversees all efforts aimed at promoting women and children rights as well as the promotion of the family welfare;

- The Ministry of Health (MINISANTE), which focuses notably its action on medical aspects as far as GBV and HIV are concerned;

- The Rwanda Biomedical Board/ HIV/AIDS and STIS diseases Division: This division is in charge of implementing policies on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment;

- The Ministry of justice (MINIJUST), which works – among other aspects – on providing legal assistance and guidance to GBV survivors and stigma and discrimination victims, especially through Access to Justice Offices (AJO or MAJ) available in all districts;

- The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC): the 2004-2008 strategic plan of the education sector comprises objectives aiming at looking after access of vulnerable children to quality education. To ensure gender equity, the ministry has developed in 2008 the Girls‟ Education Policy whose overall objective is to guide and promote the progressive elimination of gender disparities in education;

- The Ministry of Labour and Public Service (MIFOTRA) comprises a service in charge of fighting against child labour;

- The National Women Council (NWC), which pleads for the woman and the young girl; - The Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) based in the Prime Minister‟s Office, whose responsibilities include

monitoring how the fundamental principles of gender equality and non-discrimination are respected in all bodies at governmental, private and non-governmental organization levels;

- The National Police has set up a division entrusted with fighting against gender based violence and protection of children. Represented in each police station, this division is addressing cases of children in conflict with law and children victims of rape;

- Civil Society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs): RWAMREC, Profemmes-Twese Hamwe, Women for Women International, ADEPE, AVEGA, HAGURUKA, Rwanda NGO forum against AIDS and health promotion, etc.

3.4 STRADH framework

Vision: STRADH aims at a fair and equitable world where workers fully enjoy their rights, live in peace

and dignity, and actively participate in the development of their country.

Mission: Protection, defense and promotion of human rights defenders‟ values and working conditions,

and of decent work.

Values: Solidarity, determination, respect of human values and complementarily.

STRADH strategic plan 2016 – 2020:

The STRADH strategic plan 2016-2020 incorporates the gender and HIV among crosscutting issues and plans

some specific activities related to gender and HIV sensitization.

This STRADH framework is a core element guiding the elaboration of this policy.

4. Ensuring a Gender and HIV Sensitive Human rights and development services

4.1 Main Approaches The main approaches that guide the development and implementation of the present gender and HIV policy are the following:

A gender mainstreaming approach: as a fundamental tool to re-examine from a gender perspective the institutional policies and programmes that affect the development for women and men, integrating gender principles at all levels of institutional and programme management; A HIV&AIDS mainstreaming approach at the internal and the external levels that designs how to manage the HIV and AIDS issues at the workplace and in programmes;

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A rights-based approach (RBA): It opens the way to upholding the full range of human rights of men and women in socioeconomic development processes; A participatory approach: ensure the equal, gender-sensitive and meaningful participation of men, women, girls, boys, people living with HIV, people affected by HIV and key populations in the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of STRADH services, leading to better policy-making, programme design and implementation.

An affirmative action approach that aims at correcting the huge gender imbalances still existing in different areas of development and specifically in the justice sector; A capacity development approach aiming at strengthening skills and capacities of unionists and staff involved in STRADH programs; A holistic approach: For addressing multi-dimensional nature of gender inequalities and HIV& AIDS susceptibility and vulnerability risk factors and promoting an equal access to human rights and health services for all. Such approach aims at promoting the self-reliance of vulnerable individuals and groups, supporting them to overcome the structural and practical barriers and limitations faced in accessing legal and health services. Grass-root Based and People-centred Approach: By working directly with unionists and child labour, and by bringing the grassroots perspective to the attention of policy makers at different levels, STRADH will contribute to more people-centred Human rights services and sustainable development. At the core of STRADH work is the capacity building of unionists, staff and child labour and the facilitation of networks for emergence of a stronger civil society that takes part in social action. The lessons from the grass root level will inform the advocacy work and giving it legitimacy. Action Research and Learning: STRADH will actively document lessons learnt and share best practices for informing policies at national levels. The voice of unionists and child worker will be brought to the forefront in advocating through oral testimonies and media. STRADH will facilitate knowledge generation and learning by making its research findings available for advocacy purposes.

Networking: By networking, civil society can have a stronger voice and a better impact. STRADH will engage with government and civil society to develop critical awareness, facilitate participation in forums for dialogue and bring in perspectives from the grassroots in political debates at national level for contributing to a fair and equitable world where workers fully enjoy their rights, live in peace and dignity, and participate actively in the development of their country.

4.2 Guiding Principles The following principles aim at promoting gender and HIV sensitive human rights and development services within STRADH.

Non-Discrimination STRADH will not discriminate unionists, staff and any other partner on the ground of their HIV status, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, disability, prisoner status etc. Gender Equality and Empowerment STRADH will promote equal opportunity for women, men, girls, boys and people living with HIV and key populations (refers to HIV&AIDS intervention) and will ensure that services are equally accessible, affordable and safe for all.

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Confidentiality STRADH will respect individuals‟ rights to have their confidentiality protected and will not disclose sensitive personal information including health status, gender and HIV-related rights violations without the consent of the person to whom the information relates. GIPA principle: The Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV This principle aims at realizing the rights and responsibilities of people living with HIV including the right to self-determination and participation in decision making processes that affect their lives. In these efforts, GIPA also aims at enhancing the quality and the effectiveness of the AIDS response. Transparency and Accountability STRADH will be transparent and accountable to union members, child worker, the community, the local administration and donors.

Sustainability STRADH staff and unionists will need to sustain their competencies in the Gender and HIV&AIDS domains for guaranteeing quality provision of services in the future. Strategic partnerships need to be made with key institutions working for the promotion of gender equality, human rights, women‟s empowerment, HIV&AIDS prevention and treatment and the protection of people living with and/or affected by HIV&AIDS. Moreover STRADH will need to promote its own financial autonomy by promoting the income generating activities and building the good relationship with donors Do No Harm STRADH will consider possible harms that an intervention might cause to individuals and communities, as well as the benefits. It will not implement activities that cause more harm than good.

Note: Gender and HIV are both huge domains and each of them may have its own specific principles. It is for that reason that we present additional principles that may give more inspiration to STRADH:

Specific gender guiding principles as highlighted in the Rwanda national gender policy:

- Promote a society free from all forms of discrimination and injustice; - Promote effective and full participation of all citizens, men and women, girls and boys in the development process of the country; - Women and men are equal citizens who ought to fully contribute to the development process and to

equally benefit from it; - The differences existing between men and women, girls and boys need to be effectively recognized and addressed in its development processes to make its development interventions effective and efficient; - Cultural values will be examined to identify those which can promote and sustain gender equality and those

which perpetuate gender based discrimination; - Affirmative action programmes targeting women should be developed and implemented.

Specific principles related to managing HIV &AIDS at the workplace: Key principles established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and internationally adopted include: - Recognition of HIV and AIDS as a workplace issues; - Non-discrimination; - Gender equality; - Healthy work environment; - Social dialogue; - Screening for purposes of exclusion from employment or work processes ; - Confidentiality;

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- Continuation of the employment relationship ; - Prevention; - Care and support.

5. Key Actions for the Policy implementation

The present policy is a guiding tool for gender and HIV mainstreaming in the STRADH workplace, focusing on

staff, trade union members and beyond. It takes into account the STRADH strategic plan 2016 – 2020 built on six

strategic axis. However, this policy may be revised from time to time depending on future developments of

gender and HIV&AIDS issues at institutional, national and international levels.

The implementation plan is basically inspired by the following axis:

I : Reinforcement of the organization, capacity development and protection of Members. II : Advocacy for a legal framework protective of human rights and defenders. III : Promotion of decent employment . IV : Child workers’ withdrawal and socio-economic reinsertion. V : Promotion of democratic principles and values of peace culture. VI : Programme monitoring and evaluation.

Based on the above elements, STRADH formulates and integrates the following strategies and actions for addressing the current challenges in order to provide a human rights and development services sensitive to gender and HIV/AIDS:

1) Improving the recruitment criteria: - Include PLHA and gender equality among STRADH membership, staff and volunteers recruitment‟s criteria for ensuring equal

membership and employment opportunities to men, women and PLHA, promoting and guaranteeing equity in the union, staff and volunteers composition in the different professional categories and levels and the full representation of all in senior management positions and decision-making processes.

- Target women, men, girls and boys - child worker and PLHA among the target groups of advocacy, campaigns, exchange visits and development activities; a particular focus on HIV status is required for legal assistance and economic activities to unionists , staff and child worker.

2) Improving the advocacy work

- Participate to National, regional and international conferences and learning events on human rights, gender, HIV and legal services to strengthen professional skills and share lessons about effective service delivery;

- Contribute to the development of advocacy and sensitization initiatives for the promotion of gender equality and non-discrimination principles in Human rights and development sectors insisting on women rights, PLHA rights and child rights; specific studies may be done and good practices documents may be produced for that purpose. - Include HIV&AIDS stakeholders and organizations of PLHA, women organizations, organizations interested in child

labour, and men‟s organizations working in the gender perspective in the advocacy network for gathering synergies and facilitating exchange of staff, mentoring and other professional development opportunities.

3) Capacity building: - Make strategic use of STRADH resources related to gender and HIV (such as guidelines, knowledge, expertise, best

practices and programme management tools) in order to foster on-going capacity-building, experience-sharing and networking initiatives;

- Equip the resource centre with gender and HIV documents for ensuring the effective dissemination of information

concerning gender and HIV&AIDS related laws and mechanisms;

- Develop strategic partnerships with national and international bodies working for the promotion of human rights,

gender equality, access to justice and elimination of all forms of discrimination (such as MIGEPROF, MINIJUST,

GMO, UNWomen, UNAIDS, among others) in order to optimize synergies, expertise, technical and human

resources, and fund mobilization;

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4) Information and data collection and planning

- Include gender and HIV aspects in various concept notes and analysis of studies, researches, needs assessments,

evaluations and capitalization of lessons learned and good practices. Using adequate tools such as Gender

Analysis and Targeted Actions, 12 box of gender and HIV institutional self-assessments, gender audits etc. is

recommended

- Include HIV and gender in the context analysis, in plans and programmes designing and implementation and in M&E systems of STRADH; It is important to underline that all information collected will have to be disaggregated by sex, age and HIV status. It is recommended to ensure the integration of gender-sensitive budget principles. That should ensure that women, men, PLHA, boys‟ and girls‟ constraints, needs, opportunities and options are effectively taken into account.

5) Safe working environment:

- Include gender and HIV&AIDS among no discrimination mechanisms at the workplace for promoting an

environment characterized by non-discriminatory working relationships and respect for diversity, ensuring equal

treatment and opportunities for all staff members;

- Improve measures and internal mechanisms for HIV prevention, care and support to personnel ( for instance by creation of a‟‟ caisse d‟entraide‟‟);

- Put in place concrete measures for abolishing any form of discrimination.

6) Education, training and Access to services

- Include gender and HIV& AIDS topics into the human rights trainings modules for informing trainees about their rights as well as about HIV and gender sensitive laws in place, encouraging vulnerable individuals to report and seek redress for their cases;

- Organize HIV&AIDS prevention and reproductive health information activities for awareness raising and increase the

knowledge and skills of Staff and unionists enabling them to adequately address the HIV related legal issues, such

as gender-based violence, property and inheritance right violations, cases of stigma and discrimination, barriers to

access to health services including access to male and female condoms, etc;

- Train HIV&AIDS peer educators and gender focal points;

- Promote gender-based training for staff members in the diverse areas of work (i.e., programme planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, communication, finance and administration), reinforcing both technical capacities and understanding of gender-related concepts and principles; - Develop gender and HIV based capacity-building programs – including gender analysis and planning for strategic, operational and programme managers and leaders for them to acquire appropriate knowledge and skills for gender and HIV mainstreaming at all levels; - Provide legal assistance for Human Rights Defenders in needs

7) Women’s promotion: - Facilitate women‟s progression to senior executive positions, taking into account and supporting specific gender and

family related needs (i.e., paternity and maternity leaves, support for single parents, assistance for childcare, flexible working hours)

8) Economic empowerment and sustainability:

- Develop and sustain STRADH income generating activities. - Identify and approach donors who are involved in the gender and HIV&AIDS fields.

9) Monitoring and evaluation: - Establish adequate participatory mechanisms to monitor and evaluate policy progress (ex, creation of a Gender

Equality and Equity and Staff health Committee), making senior management staff accountable for the results achieved.

- Develop a coherent system to monitor and evaluate progress, achievements and challenges related to the implementation of the present policy, ensuring that the information collected will be used to strengthen and improve gender and HIV sensitive interventions.

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10) Workplace policy:Develop and update regularly a policy document on gender and HIV&AIDS and ensure its implementation.

6. Policy implementation framework

STRADH will ensure an implementation of the present policy by putting in place mechanisms of responsibilities

and measures for ensuring a regular monitoring in order to assess progress achieved in the area of gender and

HIV&AIDS.

The successful mainstreaming of gender and HIV in all areas and phases of STRADH human rights and

development services provision requires STRADH the following commitments:

6.1 The STRADH high level commitment (General Assembly and Board)

1) Adhere to national law and practices related to gender equality and Health promotion and include

provision on HIV&AIDS protection, prevention, care and support in STRADH agreements

2) Adopt the policy and ensure a long-term institutional commitment for the policy implementation

3) Share the policy with all unionists, employees and volunteers. 4) Strengthen the capacities and skills for unionists, staff and volunteers 5) Facilitate the creation of space for regular debate on gender and HIV&AIDS issues and provide

information on gender and HIV by using brochures, the resource centre and all available new technologies of information

6) Translate this policy in practices through strategies and programmes development 7) Allocate a budget for the implementation of all necessary actions and initiatives (such as advocacy and

capacity building activities) 8) Ensure the development and implementation of strong collaboration mechanisms and joint initiatives

among human rights and child labour services providers and gender and HIV related institutions at the national and international level

9) Put in place measures and procedures that can be used in case of the violation of this policy

6.2 STRADH workers

STRADH workers should consult with their employer and agree on the implementation of the present policy

7. Monitoring and evaluation of the policy implementation

In order to guarantee the effectiveness and efficiency of gender and HIV mainstreaming process at the STRADH workplace and in programmes, it is mandatory to implement the following actions.

The STRADH BOARD is engaged to:

1) Ensure the respect of the policy and its translation into programs; 2) Facilitate the creation of a Gender and Health Committee responsible for the planning, coordination and

follow-up of the gender and HIV mainstreaming actions. The Committee composition will have to integrate members at management and operational levels as well as unionists. If possible, it is recommended to include a human resource manager and a representative from the training unit and a PLHA if he/she agrees. The committee will have specific terms of reference defining the scope of work, roles and responsibilities;

3) Define, in collaboration with the Committee, an action plan including:

- Explore the national legislation on gender and HIV and assess its impact on STRADH policies and practices;

- Conduct needs assessments on gender and HIV at the workplace and in programmes with a specific focus on needs of People infected or affected by the HIV& AIDS in respect of the confidentiality principle;

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- Identify services providers in the gender and HIV& AIDS domains for potential partnership; - Develop a capacity building strategy for STRADH based on the previous needs assessment; - Design and application of specific gender and HIV sensitive programme management tools, including

gender and HIV sensitive data collection; - Facilitate the election of HIV peer educators and gender focal points; - Facilitate the creation of a „‟caisse d‟entraide mutuelle‟‟; - Designing an action plan comprising key actions as indicated in the policy, budget, timeframe and

responsibilities of the policy implementation; - Monitor the impact of the policy; - Reexamine regularly the policy based on the new trends of the HIV pandemic and new developments

related to the gender environment.

8. Indicators for the Monitoring, evaluation and learning system

- STRADH has developed gender and HIV sensitive baseline surveys, context analysis and research ; - STRADH has completed gender and HIV&AIDS vulnerability analysis and incorporates it into Human rights and development strategies; - Availability of Strategic and operational plans and MEAL systems developed with HIV&AIDS and gender mainstreaming indicators; - Proportion of HIV&AIDS integration in STRADH training modules; - Proportion of gender integration in STRADH training modules; - Proportion og women and men, girls and boys enrolled in STRADH trade union and programme; - Number of women and girls living with HIV& AIDS enrolled in the programme; - Proportion of women and men, girls and boys using financial services such as credit, saving facilities - and micro insurance offered by STRADH and other MFI(s); - Number of staff trained on gender mainstreaming; - Number of staff trained on HIV&AIDS mainstreaming; - Existence of an operational gender and health committee; - Number of gender focal point and HIV peer educators trained on HIV and gender; - Number of program managers trained on gender and HIV&AIDS mainstreaming; - Number of sensitization sessions organized on gender at the workplace and in programmes; - Number of sensitization sessions organized on HIV&AIDS and reproductive health at the workplace and in programmes; - Number of PLHA, child worker and women involved in the HIV&AIDS and sexual and reproductive sessions; - Number of union members, staff and child worker who have accessed to the HIV test within STRADH - Number of women and men receiving legal aid from STRADH; - Availability of documented information on gender and HIV&AIDS; - Proportion of budget allocated and spent on HIV and gender mainstreaming activities; - Feedback from PLHA on levels of stigma and discrimination within STRADH workplace and development programs; - Volume of health services costs (medication, hospitalization et funeral costs) ; - Proportion of unionists and staff participation to the‟‟ caisse d‟entraide‟‟; - Increased space and role for civil society organizations to stand up for rights - Regularity of activities reports; - Existence of a data base of the policy implementation achievements.

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Key References

STRADH:

- STRADH strategic plan 2016 - 2020

- « La grille à 12 cases pour l‟auto-évaluation de SIPETRA en matière du genre et VIH/SIDA »

- « SIPETRA à l'ère de l'intégration du VIH et SIDA dans ses activités en faveur des enfants travailleurs au

Rwanda »

- Right to information on sexual, reproductive health and fight against HIV/AIDS: STRADH/SIPETRA

approach towards the realization of “access to health services for all”

At the National Level

- Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 04 June 2003, as amended to date - National Accelerated Plan for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV (2010-2014) - National Strategic Plan on HIV&AIDS (2013-2018) - Rwanda Vision 2020 - Rwanda Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II ) - Rwanda National Policy on Gender (2010) - Rwanda National Policy on Gender Based Violence (2011) - “Stigma and Discrimination – Survey Report”, UNAIDS (2009) - l Institutional policy on gender and HIV for the Legal aid forum (2013)

At the International Level

- Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) - Code of Practice on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work, ILO (2001) - Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979) - “Gender Mainstreaming: Taking Action, Getting Results”, INSTRAW - UNFPA (2010) - "Guide to an effective human rights response to the HIV epidemic - Using international human rights law to

shape national law in Eastern and Southern Africa", UNDP (2007) - “HIV/AIDS Stigma resource pack”, USAID - “Integrating gender issues into HIV/AIDS Programs”, World Bank (2012) - “International guidelines on HIV-AIDS and Human Rights”, UNAIDS – OHCHR (2006) - “Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in Development and Humanitarian Programmes”, Oxfam - “Managing HIV and AIDS in the World of Work”, SAFAIDS and HIVOS (2007) - Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000-2015) - Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People‟s Rights relating to Women‟s Rights in Africa (2005) - “Scaling up gender and HIV related legal services”, UNAIDS, UNDP, IDLO (2009) - “The Gender and Legal Dimensions of HIV/AIDS: Women's access to Justice and the Role of the

Judiciary”, World Bank, International Association of Women Judges (June 2005) - Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) - “Violence against Women and HIV”, Global Coalition on Women and AIDS – WHO (2004) - “Working with Men and Boys: Emerging strategies from across Africa to address Gender-based Violence

and HIV/AIDS”, Produced by Sonke Gender Justice Network and the Men Engage Network

STRADH Gender and HIV policy · 2018. 10. 18. · The Rwanda National HIV&AIDS strategy 2013 –...

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