Integrated and right-based approach to HIV prevention among transgender and hijra community

 

Being transgender and hijra (TGH) is strongly associated with stigma and discrimination. TGH population also lacks access to tailored HIV services. Alliance India has been implementing project Wajood (which means essence or identity) with support from Amplify Change since November 2015 reaching more than 10,000 TGH for providing HIV sexual health services including support in feminization, mitigating gender-based violence, and linking to social welfare and entitlements. Wajood project is implemented with local partners in six states – Basera Samajeek Sansthan in Delhi, Lakshya Trust in Gujarat, Alliance India’s regional office in Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana and Sangama Trust in Karnataka.

The project supports community-led action for mitigation and prevention of gender-based violence among the TGH population, increases awareness and access to sexual health reproductive health services and empowers the community to formulate and propose policy change to protect the rights of the TG and Hijra population. The project has actively tracked and engaged inTGH policy reforms such as the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights)Bill since 2016. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament on November 26, 2019. The Bill defines a transperson as someone whose gender does not match the one assigned at birth. It prohibits discrimination against them in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and other services.