Sudan head the way for regional Research into HIV Stigma.

Whilst Sudan faces an extremely important moment in its political history another historic event is also taking place. As Northern and Southern Sudan are due to finalise the details of separation in July the People Living with Stigma Index will be well underway. People living with HIV will be finding out for themselves how they are experiencing stigma across the country and to see how effective stigma reduction initiatives are. After undertaking an intensive training session community researchers will steer their peers through a questionnaire designed to capture experiences of stigma in such diverse settings as, health facilities, at home, in intimate relationships and in the workplace. Participants will be asked about their knowledge of legislation and the rights of people living with HIV. Sudan is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to carry out the People Living with HIV Stigma Index and this is the first initiative by and for people living with HIV in Sudan.An accurate rather than anecdotal picture of how stigma related to HIV is experienced in Sudan will be drawn up. Providing the Sudanese Network of People Living with HIV, The Women's network, Sudan National AIDS Programme (SNAP), Sudan AIDS Network (SAN), the Sudanese Family Planning Association (SFPA), UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, other UN agencies and a variety of government offices with robust data on the situation faced by people living with HIV and giving them the tools to better target the issues through their programmes, policies and partnerships. The results of the People Living with HIV Stigma Index are expected in September 2011. People living with HIV often face stigma and discrimination. Many do not know what their rights are and how they can help to change things for the better. The index aims to collect information on stigma, discrimination and the rights of people living with HIV that will help in these advocacy efforts. The main aim of collecting the information and presenting it in the form of an index is to broaden the publics understanding of the extent and forms of stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV in different countries. The intention of the participating organizations is to make the index widely available so that it can be used as a local, national and global advocacy tool to fight for improved rights for people living with HIV. It has long been recognized that action is needed to address HIVrelated stigma and discrimination. By implementing the People Living with HIV Stigma Index within a country, evidence can be obtained so as to: Inform the development and implementation of national policies that protect the rights of people living with HIV.

 Shape the design of programmatic interventions so that they consider the issue of HIV-related stigma and discrimination within their content. The process of implementing the index is intended to be an empowering one for people living with HIV, their networks and local communities a critical ingredient for ensuring that the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS (GIPA) Principle is renewed. It is hoped that the index will foster change within communities as it is being used, as well as being a tool to advocate for the broader changes needed according to the index data. Ultimately, it is hoped that the index will be a powerful advocacy tool that acts to support the collective goal of governments, community-based organizations, activists and people living with HIV alike to reduce the stigma and discrimination linked to HIV. Keep up with all the progress form the Index around the world. http://www.stigmaindex.org/