Description
Lithuania has an HIV/AIDS epidemic concentrated in two population groups: Injected drugs users (IDUs) and prisoners. However, this issue is not addressed adequately in Lithuania because services for the most at risk groups are not sufficiently funded by the State. Persons living with HIV/AIDS (incl. IDUs) are stigmatized, their rights are often violated and they possess few tools for defending their rights, while NGOs are yet not treated as equal partners in policy making, service planning and delivery in the field of HIV and drug dependence. The aim of the project is to increase quality and accessibility of basic health care, social and legal services to this vulnerable group. Advocacy campaign for increase in coverage and improvement in quality of health care, social and legal services for people affected with HIV/AIDS shall be organized, primary legal aid services for them provided, and the coalition “I Can Live” working to reduce stigma and discrimination of this group strengthened. Target groups: policy makers, state authorities, law enforcement institutions, NGOs, media. Beneficiaries: HIV/AIDS affected persons (incl. IDUs).
Summary of project results
According to research and monitoring data, Lithuania has a concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemic in two populations – among injecting drug users and in prison settings. However, the Lithuanian response to the infection is not adequate because services for the most at risk groups are not adequately funded. People living with HIV/AIDS (including injecting drug users) are stigmatized, their rights are often violated, they have few tools for implementing their own rights. NGOs are not regarded as equal partners in the formation of public policy, service planning and delivery in the field of HIV and drug dependence. This reduces the opportunities for the civil society and the vulnerable populations to be heard and to participate in decision making concerning their own situations. The project aims at addressing these problems. The project was aimed at increasing coverage and improving quality of basic health care, social and legal services for persons with HIV/AIDS (including injecting drug users) through involvement of the project promoter in participation of public policy formation. In addition to this project was also aimed at improving the Coalition’s competencies and networking opportunities in seeking for more effective state responses to HIV. Project promoter has involved a wide spectrum of stakeholders into the project implementation – persons with HIV/AIDS, volunteers, policy and decision makers, employees and experts of public health offices, centres of mental health, social care institutions, probation facilities, etc. Coalition has advocated for increase of coverage and improvement of quality of health care, social and legal services to vulnerable groups. The following activities were implemented: advocacy and civil monitoring, awareness raising, education and training, participation in policy forming and decision making processes at local and national level. In addition to that Coalition provided help in solving legal problems of the beneficiaries - primary legal support services were offered to those unable to access it independently or unable to pay for it. Several activities towards strengthening capacity of the Coalition and its members were implemented. These embraced developing of long term strategy plan and plan for diversification of funding sources, training on the result based management, communication and networking.
Summary of bilateral results