Newsletter Project

GOAL

Health and Human Rights voice of MSM communities in the Caribbean.

OBJECTIVE

Increased awareness of Treatment Preparedness and Universal Access; HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention; and Human Rights & Advocacy within MSM communities.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

Men who have sex with Men (MSM) are greater informed of their access and right to ARV treatment, care and support; modes of HIV/AIDS/STIs transmission, risk behaviours and safe sex practises; and safeguarding their health and human rights, and psychosocial interests and needs.

DESCRIPTION

“Free Forum is a very valuable instrument for communication to reach out to marginalized groups in the region and provide them with relevant information related to HIV/AIDS transmission and ways of protection, as well as issues related to same sex relationships in society”, Dr Michel de Groulard, UNAIDS Senior Advisor to PANCAP (April, 2005).

MSM: No Political Agenda’s FRee FORUM Project is a hardcopy and online newsletter which has been produced annually since June 2002. Its purpose and function is to fill the HIV and AIDS information gap experienced by MSM in the Caribbean. Most HIV/AIDS programmes do not serve the particular needs of this sector of society. The majority of donors, governments, and HIV/AIDS NGOs create an artificial distinction between PLWHA and MSM. We need to recognize that many of the PLWHA in our countries are MSM and that their rights and needs are not currently being addressed whether affected or infected. MSMNPA is able to reach MSM who need information on prevention, treatment support and care and human rights - with appropriate and accessible information, and raise awareness among health service providers and HIV/AIDS decision makers of the rights and concerns of MSM, including MSM living with HIV/AIDS.    

Given the lack of MSM targeted information and more-so information that is culturally appropriate and specific to our region, the positive response by regional MSM communities, Community Based Organisations (CSOs), Regional AIDS Programmers, UNAIDS, and World Bank Stakeholders - to the FRee FORUM newsletter and website, it seems clear that this IEC project is making a positive contribution to supporting affected and infected marginalized communities to respond to HIV/AIDS in the region. Through the publication of FRee FORUM, the intention is to promote and support the voice of MSM communities in the Caribbean, with particular emphasis to those of the English-speaking Caribbean. Kevin Farara, the former leader of the St Kitts Nevis HIV/AIDS Group SNHAG, stated in April 2005,

“Free Forum has been a great educator for gay men here in St Kitts… the personal stories, the education on HIV/AIDS and STIs are very important, as our government and health departments don’t recognize the need for this information, far less the relations and impact of HIV/AIDS in MSM communities”.

NETWORKS

Through the hardcopy and online publication of the FRee FORUM newsletter, the intention is also to build MSM networks through the publication of the works, services and activities of regional organisations who serve MSM populations; strengthen organizations of self-identified gay men by enabling them to promote HIV prevention and care programmes via the dissemination of the newsletter and promotion of the website; assist in the breaking down of social and cultural barriers to discussion of sex between men by providing information that any consenting adult (non same-sex) can identify and relate to; and sensitizing health care workers to the psychosocial issues and needs of MSM by the availability of the newsletter at regional health centres and clinics.

TARGET

Our Primary Targeted Communities are defined as: Younger MSM (YMSM): 17 - 35 years; Older MSM (OMSM): 36 - 55+ years;

Transgendered: 18 - 55 + years, in this instance; and PLWHA MSM: YMSM PLWHA and OMSM PLWHA (respective ages), in sixteen (16) identified Caribbean counties.

Our Secondary Targeted Communities are regional PLWHAs: Male and Female. Ages: 18 - 55+ years. Though it is safe to assume that amongst the male PLWHA populations that many are MSM, due to confidentiality issues; promoting some form of prevalence stigma; and what may be actually uncertain regarding an individual’s sexual identity, at this we do not enforce the issue of gender specificity in the reporting by our regional Primary Contacts for these groups.

Our Tertiary Targeted Communities are identified as Policy and Civil Society Organisations. Many of our regional Primary Contacts are able to provide the newsletters to their in-country Policy Organisations such as National AIDS Programme Coordinators (NAPCs), Health Care Institutions, at HIV/AIDS stakeholder conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings. 

FRee FORUM is currently published in English and through it provides technical information, the majority of its articles are written by and for MSM in language used and understood by the MSM community (not medical jargon). MSMNPA’s primary target group was defined as MSM vs GBLT or Gay, because the term ascribes to an array of male-to-male sexual behaviours and identities with individual and cultural needs, which in our view better describes the Caribbean male when it addresses male-male relations (sexual and other). As such, much of the data is presented in a non-threatening manner and can benefit its reader about HIV, AIDS and STIs under the different thematic subjects of each edition.

REACH

FRee FORUM’s hardcopy newsletter is distributed and provided for regional dissemination for Free of Charge so that it is accessible to all regardless of socio-economic status, and excludes no member of the adult civil society. It offers a rare means for MSM (whether HIV positive or negative) to gain access to positive messages on health and human rights to help them to empower themselves and lead healthier lives. Ian Mc Knight, Co-founder of Jamaica AIDS Society (JAS) recently noted in 2007, “The newsletter is important and saves many lives and is the only salvation of its kind for many.”

ACTIVITIES

FRee FORUM Magazine (Hardcopy Newsletter) - To produce and distribute three (3) hardcopy Full-colour editions. The primary activity is to reach those who are at risk to and those who are infected with HIV (particularly those with limited economic resources and access to the internet) hence the emphasis on a printed product to be supplied at no cost to not exclude any persons regarding socio-economic status. It is issued tri-annually, at times relevant to MSM and HIV/AIDS – World AIDS Day ‘08 (November / December), Carnival ‘09 (February / March), and Pride ‘09 (July / August).

FRee FORUM Online (Website Editions) - To Design and Upload three (3) online editions to reflect its hardcopy edition. The greatest benefit is that the site provides access for those fortunate to have internet capability or who may not be reached by the Newsletter distribution; and serves as a private and confidential means to information at: www.msmnpa.org

Additionally, the site provides features associated to online and interactive formats such as the Caribbean Anti Violence Project form (http://www.msmnpa.org/antiviolenceproject.php ) and HIV/AIDS Q&A (http://www.msmnpa.org/hivqa/index.php ); pages that are regularly updated or revised, such as the Regional HIV Testing and Treatment Sites (http://www.msmnpa.org/issue17/wad2007_h06.php ); special front page features such as Self Help - HIV /AIDS Basics (http://www.msmnpa.org/selfhelp.php ), Safe Sex Guidelines (http://www.msmnpa.org/safersexguidelines.php ), Chill Out - MSM Events Calendar (http://www.msmnpa.org/eventcentral.php ); and host to all past editions of the Newsletter (http://www.msmnpa.org/issue17 ). Additionally the site navigation and functionality is maintained and updated on a regular basis within each project cycle.

Key Messages - Thematic outlines and content profiles (in brief) per edition are identified as follows:

A) World AIDS Day 08 edition - Treatment, Care and Support

• Regional HIV/AIDS surveillance - Annual statistics
• Promoting treatment adherence and universal Access for / amongst MSM
• Identifying barriers and solutions of treatment, care and support against / for  MSM
• Accessing treatment, care and support sites / services
• Life histories - MSM PLWHA

B) Carnival 09 edition - Prevention

• Modes of transmission - HIV and STIs
• Defining STIs
• Identifying risk and sexual behaviours
• Safe sex practises and guidelines
• Product knowledge - condoms, lube, dams, spermicide (N-9)
• Interviews - YMSM / OMSM

C) Pride 09 edition - Advocacy & Human Rights

• Community Profiles - Countries, Events, Organisations, Individuals
• Combating Stigma & Discrimination, Homophobia and Taboos
• Developing / Managing  regional human rights policies
• Addressing psychosocial issues and concerns
• GBLT regional news

DISTRIBUTION AND ACCESS

It is proposed that the Newsletter be distributed to eighteen countries (18) countries as follows: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St Maarten, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

Partner Organizations and point persons have been prepared for each country. The Newsletters will be shipped to each Partner Organisation who in turn disseminates directly to the targeted communities. This approach is innovative, as it builds on social networks within the MSM, PLWHA and Stakeholder communities in each country, developed over the years by MSMNPA.

Each country has its own indigenous system of engaging and providing its MSM community with FRee FORUM. The majority prefer a direct and discreet approach (one-on-one / by hand) like in the Eastern Caribbean, Belize, Bahamas, Dominica, and Barbados, etc. Others groups manage events which serve as a dissemination station e.g Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad.

PLWHAs communities are reached via networks with regional Civil Society organisations such as Bahamas AIDS Foundation - Bahamas; Church Brigade (PLWHA Support Group) and Comfort. Assist. Reach Out. Educate. (C.A.R.E.) – CRN + - Barbados; PASMO - Belize; Lifeline Ministries - Dominica. Hope Pals Foundation- Grenada; JAS - Jamaica; CoNCRA - Puerto Rico; TLC and AIDS Action Foundation - St Lucia; HIV/AIDS Foundation and Sector of Health Care Affairs - St Maarten; House of Hope (PLWHA Support) - St Vincent & the Grenadines; and Stichting Mamio Namen - Suriname.