A Framework for Media Engagement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in South Asia Regional Framework, Literature Review and Country Case Studies Centre for Advocacy and Research New Delhi, India Centre for Advocacy and Research A Framework for Media Engagement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in South Asia Regional Framework, Literature Review and Country Case Studies Centre for Advocacy and Research New Delhi, India i CFAR Research Team Akhila Sivadas Prashant Jha Aarthi Pai Sambit Kumar Mohanty Pankaj Bedi V. Padmini Devi CFAR 2012–13 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations, including UNDP, or UN Member States. A Framework for Media Engagement on Human Rights, ii Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in South Asia List of Acronyms and Abbreviations AALI Association for Advocacy and Legal DGHS Directorate General of Health Services Initiatives DIC Drop-in-centre AAS Ashar Alo Society DivA Diversity in Action (project) AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome DLLG District Level Lawyers Group amfAR The Foundation for AIDS Research ESCAP (United Nations) Economic and Social AMU Aligarh Muslim University Commission for Asia Pacific APCOM Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual FGD Focus Group Discussion Health FHI Family Health International APTN Asia Pacific Transgender Network FPAB Family Planning Association of ART Anti-Retroviral Therapy Bangladesh ARV Anti-Retroviral Vaccine FPAN Family Planning Association of Nepal AITAM AITAM Welfare Organisation FSW Female sex worker BAP Bangladesh AIDS Project GFATM Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis BBC British Broadcasting Corporation and Malaria BDHS Bangladesh Demographic and Health GIPA Greater Involvement of People Living Survey with HIV and AIDS (Declaration) BDS Blue Diamond Society GOB Government of Bangladesh BLAST Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Trust Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH BMGF Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus BSS Behavioural Surveillance Survey HNPSP Health Nutrition and Population Sector Programme BSWS Bandhu Social Welfare Society HSS HIV Serological Surveillance CBO Community based organisation ICAAP International Congress on AIDS in Asia CCM Country Coordination Mechanism and the Pacific CDO Chief District Officer ICDDR,B International Centre for Diarrhoeal CRIS Country Response Information System Diseases Research, Bangladesh CAAP Confidential Approach to AIDS ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Prevention Social and Cultural Rights CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All ICTC Integrated Counselling and Testing Forms of Discrimination against Women Centre CFAR Centre for Advocacy and Research IEC Information, Education and DCPCR Delhi Commission for the Protection of Communication Child Rights IDLO International Development Law DFID Department for International Organisation Development IDU Injecting Drug Users iii INFOSEM Indian Network for Sexual Minorities SAARC South Asian Association for Regional IPC Indian Penal Code Cooperation IPPF International Planned Parenthood SAFMA South Asian Free Media Association Federation SEARO Regional Office for South East Asia – KP Key Populations World Health Organisation LGBTI/LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender SGM Sexual and Gender Minority and Intersex SIDA Swedish International Development MARP Most-at-risk Population Cooperation Agency MDG Millennium Development Goal SOGI Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity M&E Monitoring and Evaluation SRH Sexual and Reproductive Health MHA Ministry of Home Affairs STD Sexually Transmitted Disease MJF Manusher Janno Foundation, STI Sexually Transmitted Infection Bangladesh SW Sex Worker MOHFW Ministry of Health and Family Welfare TAI Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative MOLE Ministry of Labour and Employment TARSHI Talking about Reproductive and Sexual MOP Ministry of Planning Health Issues MOSW Ministry of Social Welfare TG Transgender Persons MSM Men who have Sex with Men TWG Technical Working Group MSW Male Sex Worker UDHR Universal Declaration on Human Rights MTF Male-to-female Transgender UN United Nations NAC National AIDS Committee UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS NACO National AIDS Control Organisation UNDP United Nations Development NACP National AIDS Control Program Programme NAMA Nepal AIDS Media Award UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific NARI National AIDS Research Institute and Cultural Organisation NASP National STD/AIDS Program UNFPA The United Nations Population Fund NCPI National Composite Policy Index UNGASS United Nations General Assembly NHRC National Human Rights Commission Special Session on HIV/AIDS NMC National Media Committee UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund NRHM National Rural Health Mission (India) UPR Universal Periodic Review NSACP National STD/AIDS Control Programme, USAID United States Agency for International Sri Lanka Development NSP National Strategic Plan VCCT Voluntary and Confidential Counselling NGO Non-Governmental Organisation and Testing OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner of WB World Bank Human Rights WHO World Health Organisation PLHIV People Living with HIV WGHR UN Working Group on Human Rights PWUD People Who Use Drugs WPRO-WHO Western Pacific Regional Office-World RFP Request For Proposal Health Organisation A Framework for Media Engagement on Human Rights, iv Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in South Asia Table of Contents Acknowledgements vi Executive Summary 1 Part I: A FRAMEWORK FOR MEDIA ENGAGEMENT Assignment Summary and Media Engagement Framework 7 Part II: NARRATIVE REPORTS Literature Review 23 Narrative Report 23 Objective 23 Methodology and Rationale 23 Thrust and Findings 24 Part III: COUNTRY CASE STUDIES Country Case Study 1: Bangladesh 44 Strategizing Spaces for Issues of MSM: The Evolving Hijra Discourse in Bangladesh 44 Executive Summary 44 Narrative Report 48 Country Case Study 2: India 67 Focused Programme Actions Magnify Articulations on MSM and Transgender Persons’ Issues: Reflections from India 67 Executive Summary 67 Narrative Report 71 Country Case Study 3: Nepal 94 The MSM and Transgender Persons’ (LGBT) Movement in Nepal: Role and Engagement of Media 94 Executive Summary 94 Narrative Report 97 Part IV: REFERENCES Annexure: Country wise Advocacy Programme Briefs and Fact Sheets 107 Bibliography 128 Additional Documents Reviewed 131 Endnotes 134 v Acknowledgements his document attempts to summarise the outcomes Khanal of The Himalayan Times, Hari Bahadur Thapa, Tand inferences emerging from the detailed literature Gopal Khanal and Atul Mishra of The Kathmandu review and country case studies undertaken as part Post, Ghanshyam Khadag and Sunder Khanal of The of the assignment to develop a framework for media Daily Kantipur, and Subeena Dutt for their valuable to engage on issues relating to Men who have Sex participations. with Men (MSM) and Transgender (TG) persons in South Asia. Centre for Advocacy and Research, India In Bangladesh, Shale Ahmed and his team at BSWS (CFAR) undertook this assignment sponsored by extended every support to us in facilitating the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre between April country interactions, with Premangshu Sarkar and 2012 and May 2013 in which period we interacted Rahmat Ullah personally coordinating the meetings at with community members, leaders, activists, media each stage. Detailed interactions with other senior practitioners and civil society from across India, members — Umme Farhana Zakia Kanta, Foisul Nepal and Bangladesh to gather their experiences of Ahsan, Royal and Beraj — gave us programme as well being part of the issue discourses and of engaging as community insights on the issues. Among the other with media. community leaders, Bobby Hijra and Zoya Sikdar were kind enough to share their experiences, with the The framework suggested in this document draws former also facilitating for us a group discussion with upon a variety of inputs by these key stakeholders. transgender persons at Sustho Jeebon. Media fellows We would like to acknowledge our deepest gratitude Hassan Bipul of BDNews24 and Moni Mahmood of to each one of them for sharing their insights on a Bhorer Kagoj spared considerable time for us, and range of issues of direct relevance. In undertaking the also led us to others in media, including Angur Nahar country-level interactions in Nepal and Bangladesh, Monty, Saiful Islam and Shafiq Rehman. KSM Tariq we received excellent support from Blue Diamond of FHI360 provided useful detailed information on the Society (BDS) and Bandhu Social Welfare Society HIV prevention project, Madumita. We also deeply (BSWS), respectively. We would like to especially appreciate the help extended by Sara Hossain of acknowledge the support and cooperation extended BLAST, who shared pertinent observations with us by the teams and members of these organisations. online. In India, we had wonderful experiences in media Among the individuals, we are particularly thankful to engagement; and the excellent inputs shared by a Sunil Babu Pant, Bhumika Shrestha, Bobby, Umesh, range of community leaders, activists and media Parshuram, Durga and many of their colleagues and professionals have enriched this case study immensely. members at BDS, some of who also participated in Many thanks and immense gratitude is due to Aditya the focus group discussions (FGDs). Madhav Dulal of Bandopadhay, Ashok Row Kavi, Manohar Elavarthi,