Quarterly Progress Report # 15: HIV PLEDGE Project

The project is implemented by the UNODC Programme Office in Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, and other stakeholders. The project is funded by USAID/Ukraine and builds on the existing work of the UNODC's regional programme XCEA01. The project focuses on three main objectives: creating an environment supportive of evidence-informed and human-rights based HIV/AIDS and drug dependence treatment programs among MARPs, strengthening the capacities of the State Penitentiary Service, public health, and social services to provide comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, and improving the capacity of the drug dependence treatment system to provide integrated HIV prevention and drug treatment services. During the reporting period, April 1, 2015, to June 30, 2015, the project implemented several activities to achieve its objectives. A KAPB survey was conducted among police officers and students of police training institutions to assess their knowledge, attitude, practice, and behavior regarding HIV/AIDS. The survey found that while respondents had relevant knowledge about HIV/AIDS, they still held stereotypes about the danger of PLWH and supported the idea of criminalizing drug abuse and sex work. The project also developed a Draft Law Enforcement Action Plan to support the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Programme for 2014-2018. The plan outlines concrete activities that the Ministry of Interior should implement to support the national response to HIV/AIDS, including ensuring active participation in working groups, developing normative legal acts, and conducting trainings and capacity building. Additionally, the project finalized a Draft Law Enforcement HIV-at-work place-policy, which aims to prevent HIV infection among police during service provision and reduce stigma and discrimination towards PLWH among police officers. The policy stipulates basic principles of HIV prevention at the workplace, including recognition of HIV/AIDS as a workplace issue, overcoming discrimination, and promoting gender equality. The project's activities were presented and discussed during a regular meeting of the Technical Working Group on Law Enforcement and HIV, which resulted in obtaining specific comments and recommendations from law enforcement experts. The Draft Action Plan and the Draft Law Enforcement HIV-at-work place-policy were revised based on the feedback received, and the revised documents were submitted to the Ministry of Interior for implementation. The project's progress is monitored through regular meetings with stakeholders, and the project's achievements are reported to the donor and other partners. The project's success is measured through the implementation of its objectives, the development of policies and guidelines, and the improvement of the capacity of stakeholders to provide comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, and care services.