Linking Policy to Programming
Strengthening Legal and Policy Environments for reducing HIV Risk and Improving Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) for Young Key Populations in Southern Africa
Young key populations in Southern Africa face significant barriers to accessing HIV and SRH services. Many of these barriers originate from country laws and policies that are punitive, discriminatory, conflicting and restrictive. Criminalisation of same-sex relationships, age restrictive laws prohibiting young people’s access to HIV testing, contraceptives, abortion and SRH services (or only with parental consent) and restrictive policies on provision.
In order to improve HIV/SRH outcomes in young key populations, HIV/SRH legal, policy and strategy environments for young key populations need to be strengthened and monitored. This project seeks to support national governments in reviewing and reforming country laws and policies and to facilitate citizen input and accountability for implementation.
The underlying theory of change is that effective and sustainable responses for HIV/SRH will require a reduction of the stigma associated with HIV/SRH and most affected populations, a legal environment that is gender-sensitive and that enables access to and use of key prevention, treatment services and commodities and the political will to include and protect marginalized (young) key populations in policy and governance. The long-term objective of the project is to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes for young key populations in SADC countries. At medium-term, the project seeks to strengthen HIV/SRH related rights of young key populations in law, policy and strategy in five SADC Countries. The project focuses on young sex workers of all genders, young men who have sex with men, young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, young people who inject drugs and young prisoners.
A HEARD core team of highly qualified and experienced researchers undertook baseline studies in each of the five countries, collaborating with local research institutions and project partners on the ground. The baseline studies informed the design of operational research in each country, and covered distinct pieces of research with young men who have sex with men, young women who sell sex, young adolescents, young prisoners and young LGBTI around a range of topics within the domain of sexual and reproductive health and rights. HEARD, in collaboration with its research partners, is currently disseminating and publishing the research findings through various platforms and channels. The research reports, research briefs, and scientific publications can be viewed or downloaded by using the links provided in the list of resources below.
Resources
- Linking Policy to Programming Project Brief – English – French – Portuguese
- Angola Baseline Brief – English
- Madagascar Baseline Brief – English
- Madagascar Research Report – French
- Madagascar Research Brief on the case of Nosy Be- French
- Madagascar Academic Publications –English
- Mozambique Baseline Brief – English
- Mozambique Research Report – English 1 English 2
- Mozambique Academic publications – English 1 English 2 English 3
- Zambia Baseline Brief – English
- Zambia Research Report – English
- Zambia Academic Publications – English 1 English 2
- Zimbabwe Baseline Brief – English
- Zimbabwe Academic Publications- English 1 English 2
- Zimbabwe Research Report – English
Multimedia Outputs
- Peer to peer research on mental health in Zambia
- Partnering with young people in research in Madagascar