Survival is the first freedom : applying democracy & governance approaches to HIV/AIDS work

D&G can improve HIV/AIDS prevention and care by generating leadership commitment, improving the information flow about HIV/AIDS, mobilizing community and civil society to support HIV/AIDS programs, promoting respect for human rights of those living with HIV/AIDS, and supporting gender empowerment. Some of the major obstacles identified to applying D&G approaches to HIV/AIDS include lack of participation, a weak enabling environment, inadequate resources, poor coordination of national responses, general insensitivity to the pandemic, and lack of information, particularly in rural communities. The toolkit acknowledges those barriers and offers practical ways of addressing and overcoming them, in part by focusing on areas where HIV/AIDS and D&G naturally complement one another. The toolkit is organized around key D&G concepts that have direct application to specific needs in HIV/AIDS programming: (1) democratic principles and practices; (2) rule of law; (3) increasing citizens" participation; (4) increasing capacity; and (5) enhancing the flow of information. Specific tools for relating these D&G focus areas to HIV/AIDS work are included at the end of each section. Since these tools emerge directly from field experiences, their effectiveness depends as much on how they are used as on their intrinsic merits. Readers are welcomed to add their input by e-mailing them to PACT-AIDS/Corps. (Author abstract, modified)