Workshop on HIV and Stigma- Charlotte Malerich

HIV-related stigma creates barriers to effective treatment and prevention, and thwarts efforts to end the epidemic on the whole. It makes people afraid to seek treatment, to take precautions, and to share critical information with their loved ones. It marginalizes social movements and programs, like needle exchanges, which are proven to reduce the spread of HIV. According to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, stigma "helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it... Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world."

Building on curricula from the International Center for Research on Women, members of the MWPHA Health Disparities Committee and partners are developing a workshop to address HIV-related stigma. After the workshop, participants will understand what stigma is; its relationship to social determinants and structures of power like patriarchy, racism, homophobia, and social class; and why speaking up is critical to ending the epidemic. Additionally, participants will be challenged to take action in their own communities. The workshop will be presented at the second annual conference on HIV and stigma at Howard University on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011, and become a permanent piece of the Committee's toolkit, offered to community organizations and groups.

A trial run of the workshop took place on May 7. With feedback from participants, a sub-committee for the workshop development will meet to conduct further research, as well as revise and add to the workshop's content. Those interested in working on this project as creators, becoming facilitators, or participating in future workshop trials should contact Joy Spencer at joyful9802@gmail.com or Charlotte Malerich at csmalerich@gmail.com.