ARASA: My body is not a democracy project, 2019 -2023

ARASA is on course in delivering on its overall objective of contributing to scaling up and sustaining civil society capacity for advocacy and holding governments accountable for the realisation of SRHR in line with international and regional SRHR commitments. This includes increasing of the understanding and awareness of key influencers and decision makers on the need for the realisation of SRHR. The second year recorded considerable progress with high level of momentum scored in programme implementation. The programme raised awareness and strengthened the capacity of civil society and key influencers including decision makers on advocacy for HIV prevention, SOGIE, access to safe abortion and UHC. Not only were civil society partnerships developed, but key influencers were also mobilised from the political arena and the media. Tremendous progress was recorded in the performance and the pace of implementation which included the increased burn rate at both national and regional levels. More spaces for dialogue and sharing of lessons and consensus building between diverse civil society movements and key influencers were created. Engagements between civil society and key influencers were facilitated to ensure that parties were able to exchange experiences and to develop collaborative approaches to protecting and promoting bodily autonomy and integrity at both regional and national levels. ARASA managed to increase its influence at key regional, continental, and international policy platforms. However, despite the notable progress made around advocacy for HIV prevention, SOGIE and access to safe abortion, ARASA has made limited progress towards Universal Health Coverage advocacy. This is attributed to the greater need for capacity building in this space. ARASA will continue with its endeavours to make UHC language and conversations more accessible to partners and allies. Specific Results Outcome Area 1: Civil society have increased capacity for co-ordination, understanding, agency and forming of strategic alliances, which will contribute to stronger, more inclusive movements for SRHR and will use the skills to mobilise communities for transformation of social norms and to advocate to their national decision makers for positive changes to law, policy and financial allocations for SRHR. Work was accelerated with traditional and religious leaders at country and community level.This was key in the process of changing social norms from ground up. Through the Training and Leadership development programme, capacity for civil society organisations was enhanced for effective advocacy for SRHR and bodily autonomy and integrity in the region. This was done along side the strengthening of research for evidence-based advocacy on access to SRHR and HIV services for transpersons in Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe. In particular, socio-political contexts of transmen, women and non-binary persons and the impact of law and practices on their access to SRH and HIV services were explored. Members of Parliament and National Human Rights Commissions were engaged on the importance of advancing rights to bodily autonomy and integrity. This resulted in influencing various policy spaces for the protection of SRHR. ARASA continued its engagement with the SADC - SRHR strategy implementation and HIV prevention. Through its support to civil society organisations, ARASA contributed to the process of influencing international policy and providing input into the development of the new UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy. ARASA led the coordination of the African Civil Society voices around HIV High Level Meeting and Political Declaration and used its position and role on the Global Fund's community, Rights and Gender (CRG) advisory Group to influence the strategy. ARASA has continued to strength and cement Partnerships with the like minded organisations on bodily autonomy and integrity and SRHR. In particular, ARASA's partnerships with HEARD, SAT, SAfAIDS and ATHENA were further consolidated through the co-hosting of online training initiatives and webinars. Notable was the engagement of the SADC Secretariat and the SADC-PF which resulted in joint initiatives. Relationships with the UN and other development partners were enhanced as evidenced by increase in numbers of invitations to speak during webinars and the participation in strategic meetings. In terms of specific activities, ARASA not only developed and updated resource materials on bodily autonomy and integrity, but also completed the activist's toolkit and updated four modules of the TaLP manual. This provided additional easy to digest material besides the two animation videos on bodily autonomy. The material contributed to increased access to information and further strengthened the capacity for CSOs to meaningfully engage with service providers and policy makers on rights centred laws, policies and financial resource allocations. In a training session which initially attracted 36 participants, African CSO leaders were trained as master trainers on BAI out of which only 15 completed the course. Due to Covid 19, the model of delivery was changed from face to face interactions to virtual training. In part this explains the high percentage drop outs. The 2020 cohort earlier trained reported how they had effectively used the acquired skills and knowledge from the training to advocate for SRHR. They reported having reached more than 1,200 people with advocacy messages which targeted health workers, community leaders and key populations among others. The second module focused on enhancing participants understanding of UHC and equipped them with knowledge and skills for effective engagement in budget advocacy for health and SRH financing. The sessions also exposed participants to cross-country realities and challenges of the impact of COVID-19 on financing for health and SRH needs. In Madagascar, the influence of those earlier trained led to challenging the government to reinstate the budget line on family planning which had been earlier omitted in the 2021 Finance Law. One of the participants reported that upon return to Madagascar, she was able to dialogue with the regional authorities during regional budget conferences organised to collect ideas from civil society and the private sector during the preparation of the Finance Law for 2022. The budget conferences provided opportunities to raise questions to authorities about the commitments they signed onto regarding family planning. In the case of Uganda, the participant reported engaging policy makers and influencers at district level on matters of BAI and in partnership with other CSOs, they initiated the registration of the Drop -in-Center (DICE) as a clinic recognised by the local government as a Key Population service delivery centre. In addition, dialogue with the Police was conducted in all the 9 Districts of the Masaka Region of Uganda. Twelve (12) Officers in Charge of stations and 15 additional polices officers were trained. This resulted in more visibility and better understanding of the KPs in the region. Technical and financial support was provided for TaLP reflection labs for the participants and the alumni to facilitate cross-learning, sharing of experiences and use of the acquired knowledge and skills to facilitate trainings on human rights, SRHR, SOGIE and HIV prevention. This was done in selected countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Eswatini, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles, Lesotho and Mozambique. Twelve (12) alumni and 16 newly trained CSO leaders participated in the reflection labs which aimed at encouraging peer learning and enhancement of experiential learning. ARASA facilitated the solidarity between the alumni and previously trained CSO leaders by creating a platform for the exchange of experiences and skills. ARASA facilitated and supported partners in four countries in conducting training on bodily autonomy and integrity and SRHR for people who use drugs, parliamentarians, sex workers and LGBTI persons. In Uganda, the training raised awareness on bodily autonomy and integrity and how to demand for SRH services. For parliamentarians the training highlighted the need for them to table motions in parliament that are rights-based. In Comoros, the training provided a platform for participants to network and link up with others in WhatsApp groups. The increased knowledge, skills and political will of decision makers resulted in the Eswatini members of parliament signing the Barcelona Declaration on TB, thus demonstrating support for the objective of ending the TB epidemic and developing a draft action plan to assist in conducting further activities on TB. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the partner mobilised United Nations agencies including UNDP and UNAIDS to draw on their expertise. The workshop contributed to movement building of civil society actors in the DRC. The CSOs committed to integrate bodily autonomy and integrity concepts in their programmes and to strengthen the partnerships with other civil society structures and United Nations agencies. The Mozambican meeting provided a unique opportunity for key populations to come together to interact and unpack issues that limit their access to basic health care services. Other areas addressed included stigma and discrimination at health care facilities and female genital mutilation. The other key areas tackled were rape of LGBTI persons; widows inheritance; and beating or killing of women who do not comply with traditional values and norms. This is despite Mozambique being a signatory to international human rights treaties, conventions and principles which protect and guarantee human rights for all. Participants drew advocacy plans to address the issues identified. In Zimbabwe, participants concretised their plans and built consensus around HIV prevention and SOGIE as well as access to safe abortion in relation to bodily autonomy and integrity. This was done through the mapping of priorities, achievements, challenges and opportunities for collaboration between actors and key allies. Advocacy messages were compiled and participating organisations encouraged to include bodily autonomy and integrity in their ongoing programmes for sustainability. The Zimbabwe meeting created its own `"I Own My Body..."integrity campaign video which featured Zimbabwean SRHR activists. To generate evidence-based information for advocacy on bodily autonomy and integrity, ARASA conducted a regional scan on the level of access to SRHR and HIV services for trans persons in Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The research explored the socio- political contexts of trans men, women and non-binary persons, and the impact of law, policy, and practice on access to SRH and HIV services in the six Southern and East African countries. Other research areas included mapping of existing research/evidence generated by regional and international organisations on implementation of international and regional policy and political commitments on SRHR - with a focus on access to safe abortion, HIV prevention, SOGIE and SRHR in UHC. ARASA is currently conducting community monitoring to document the impact of national implementation of international and regional policy and political commitments on SRHR (with a focus on access to safe abortion, HIV prevention, SOGIE and SRHR in UHC) and the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of SRHR services provided in their communities. Gaps in evidence regarding the implementation of regional and international policy and political commitments in East and Southern Africa and how these impact on the AAAQ of SRHR services provided in communities are also being monitored. Mounted the Every BODY Counts! campaign to raise awareness and to contribute to national and regional movement building across Southern and East Africa and to support interventions relating to bodily autonomy and integrity. The campaign called on individuals, communities and policy makers to take a stand to reduce inequality in all its forms and to promote health, dignity and well being for sustainable development in Southern and East Africa. A campaign strategy was developed and launched using materials which included the campaign style guide, campaign logos, sticker templates, poster templates, t-shirt design, mask and stencil design and a video brief. The bodily autonomy and integrity campaign launch received coverage from media houses in the region such as Allafrica.com, the Lesotho Times, The Herald in Zimbabwe, New Era, the Windhoek Observer in Namibia and The Nations in Seychelles. Issued and publicised a number of press statements as a means of sharing information on bodily autonomy and integrity highlighting ARASA campaign activities and priority themes. During the period, ARASA issued a statement on International Zero Discrimination Day calling on civil society, governments and development partners to intensify their efforts and to commit to the protection and promotion of the rights to bodily autonomy and integrity for women and girls in addressing gender inequality and discrimination. ARASA also issued a statement on World Health Day calling on national governments and regional and international stakeholders to redouble their efforts in providing access to contraception; access to safe abortion; access to HIV, TB and HCV prevention, treatment and care; and to end laws that decriminalise same-sex relationships, sex work and drug use. ARASA issued a statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia calling on duty bearers in the region to ensure that the rights to bodily autonomy and integrity are protected as part of addressing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia at community and policy level. A lot more statements were issued by ARASA together with Namibian civil society organisations which called on the Swapo Party Youth League to show leadership in ending discrimination which undermines full recognition and attainment of human rights, access to health services and justice. ARASA with African civil society organisations issued yet another joint statement calling for support from African Member States for a 2021 Political Declaration. The statement was released ahead of the High Level Meeting on AIDS to strengthen the global and national response to HIV. ARASA's presence on social media platforms has evolved, grown and has facilitated the sharing of information and learning between partners. A total of 11,306 followers on Facebook were recorded by the end of July 2021. This was an increase from 9,958 the year before. ARASA shared weekly newsletters with partners on SRHR and bodily autonomy and integrity. This was in addition to its quarterly newsletters with a wide coverage and distribution of a total of 146 articles relating to ARASA and partner campaigns. Outcome Area 2 : Key influencers and decision-makers have increased understanding of the need to promote the rights to bodily autonomy and integrity and to fulfil SRHR and the impact of failure to do so on health. Through advocacy ARASA together with others highlighted the role of parliamentarians in advancing bodily autonomy and integrity in the context of SRHR. Parliamentarians were encouraged to enact rights based bills into law and to harmonise the laws to help meet peoples SRHR needs. MPs were called upon to promote the implementation of CSE in schools and targeted interventions for men and young men in maternal health programmes. A total of 60 participants which included MPs and CSO representatives attended. ARASA convened a virtual regional media learning and reflection lab on bodily autonomy and integrity and its intersection with SRHR for media partners and practitioners in Southern and East Africa. The lab served as a platform for sharing best reporting practices to influence national, regional and international human rights policies. The training was held over three days and was attended by 38 participants ranging from Chief Executive Officers, Editors-in-Chief, senior editors and journalists. Ten expert speakers from civil society addressed the sessions on access to safe abortion, gender-based violence, SRHR and LGBTQ rights from the regional activist perspective. Editors and journalists appreciated the workshop and reflected on how the media using its power could either undermine or promote bodily autonomy and integrity. All editors/journalists reported that the media lab had ignited in them a desire to act on such issues in different ways than before. Some appreciated the importance of being factual in reporting now that they were aware of the facts. Following the training, they would now package the stories about bodily autonomy and integrity in ways that were sensitive to victims and acceptable to society. Some appreciated the knowledge they gained about bodily autonomy and integrity, the impact of rights violations such as the sterilisation of women living with HIV/AIDS and abortion. ARASA supported partners in Namibia and Zimbabwe to compile and submit alternative reports to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In Namibia, two submissions were made by the Namibia Diverse Womens Association and the Women Leadership Centre was supported. A group of CSOs in Zimbabwe led by the Pan African Positive Womens Coalition-Zimbabwe (PAPWC-ZIM) was also assisted in compiling a report which they later submitted. Supported the training of civil society on understanding the importance of the UPR prior to the writing of the reports. The submissions addressed different aspects of bodily autonomy and integrity such as SOGIE rights, womens rights and the right to abortion. In partnership with BONELA in Botswana, ARASA made a submission in response to the call by the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women on rape as a grave and systematic human rights violation against women. The report emphasised the relationship between multiple tiers of international human rights law and obligations for member states in Southern Africa. An analysis of SADC-level treaties, strategies, and policies was made and concluded that regional treaties and policies influence the development of the law at a national level. ARASA through its Director facilitated a panel discussion on HIV responses and its integration into systems for health, development, social protection and humanitarian settings - during a multi-stakeholder hearing as part of the preparatory process for the 2021 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. ARASA also participated in a panel of an Inter-Parliamentary Union side event during the meeting titled The role of parliaments in addressing inequalities to end AIDS by 2030. The remarks responded to the question: How are you working to promote a human rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS and what do you want to tell policy makers on addressing stigma and discrimination? The hearing provided an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input to the UNs Political Declaration on HIV. ARASA coordinated African civil society organisations in developing a joint statement which outlined priorities for the 2021 High Level Meeting on AIDS and the Political Declaration. ARASA remotely attended the 67th and the 68th ordinary sessions of the ACHPR as part of its engagement with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR). Its Programmes Lead in her capacity as an expert member participated in the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV. Through this platform, ARASA has been engaging the Committee on adopting a resolution on criminalisation of HIV in the context of breastfeeding. ARASA participated in the UNDP meeting on removing legal and structural barriers to ending AIDS by 2030. Made a presentation on the need for national-level accountability mechanisms to ensure that regional standards are not only domesticated but that they are also implemented. In its presentation, ARASA highlighted the importance of amplifying the voice of progressive decision makers and highlighted success stories in removing structural barriers and discriminatory laws in the African context. ARASA also called upon participants to challenge the broad narrative that often depicts the African continent as conservative. In partnership with the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) and the Ipas Africa Alliance, ARASA hosted a webinar series titled Advocating for SRHR and Bodily Autonomy and Integrity using the African Human Rights System'' The sessions explored the African human rights systems and regional mechanisms to advocate for SRHR in the promotion of bodily autonomy and integrity and strengthening partner capacity and exchange to further engage with the ACHPR. Thirty three (33) stakeholders participated in the Zoom meeting. The panellists discussed the challenges associated with working on SRHR and BAI in the African context. Despite these challenges, the panellists pointed out that significant gains had been made at the African Commission, which among others included the recognition of the right to equality and non discrimination which extends to sexual orientation. ARASA provided advice on how to engage with the Commission by drawing on experiences from CSOs which have had a long-standing relationship with the Commission. CSOs should make use of those that have previously attended sessions of the African Commission and have developed relationships with commissioners and obtained observer status. This would enable CSOs to participate in the oral statement sessions. With its vast experience in this area, ARSA provided the much needed technical support to other CSOs. ARASA provided input on draft policies and laws and further supported the SADC-PF GBV Model Law technical working group. This was done by providing comments on draft documents of the Model Law and supporting the civil society consultations on the Model Law. Additionally, ARASA has continued to participate in the Namibia Technical Working Group on SRHR. This group consists of representatives from various Ministries in Namibia, including Health, Gender and Education, as well as UN agencies and civil society organisations that work on SRHR in Namibia. During the reporting period, ARASA attended several meetings and provided technical support to on ongoing conversations on reforming LGBT laws and restrictive abortion laws in Namibia. In particular, ARASA supported the Gender and Justice Unit in Malawi and its partners (CHREEA and FSWA) in the assessment of the responsiveness of the police to BAI related issues. ARASA documented cases of police brutality suffered by sex workers and the observed abuses which were referred to the newly established Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for legal redress. The research explored the level of trust that sex workers have in the police. The research further sought to determine whether sex workers as aggrieved parties would turn to the police when faced with human rights abuses at the hands of other police officers. Research results on 19 sex workers around Blantyre, showed that most sex workers faced incidences of abuse at the hands of the police either during their time of arrest or at the time of reporting cases of abuse. Research findings further showed that there were rampant abuses and disregard of sex workers human rights. Although the police have a constitutional right to protect all citizens, the research indicated that most common incidences involving sex workers interaction with the Police resulted in physical assaults of a sexual nature, such as rape, sexual battery, molestation or attempted assaults. Six cases identified during the research were further investigated and formal complaints filed with the IPCC. ARASA has recognised the strategic role that faith and religious leaders as influencers play in the promotion of SRHR. As a response to this recognition, ARASA conducted faith feminist sessions with traditional and religious leaders. A total of 105 participants were trained and equipped with information on faith in relation to bodily autonomy, integrity and reproductive justice. Religious and faith leaders were empowered with advocacy skills in bodily autonomy and integrity for further dissemination in their communities. Because of their enduring presence and the far-reaching networks, traditional leaders can be key influencers in communities.

The intervention´s main objective is to advocate for the removal of legal, policy and social barriers to the protection of the rights to Bodily Autonomy and Integrity (BAI)  for all and to achieve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) persons, women, adolescent girls and young women - and ultimately to attain health, dignity and wellbeing for sustainable development in southern and east Africa. The 3-year programme support will be anchored on ARASA’s core principle of respect for and protection of rights to bodily autonomy and integrity, and will focus on specific SRHR themes: 1) Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity - addressing legal and policy barriers hindering comprehensive access to SRH services and rights for LGBTI persons within which the implementation of the Regional Strategy for HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Amongst Key Populations will be targeted; 2) HIV prevention - removing structural, legal and policy barriers for HIV prevention and the implementation of the SADC Prevention Framework and Scorecard; 3) Access to safe abortion - addressing legal, policy and social barriers limiting access to safe abortion in support of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Special Rapporteur of the Rights of Women in Africa continental Campaign for the Decriminalization of Abortion in Africa; and 4) Universal Health Coverage (UHC) - supporting civil society organizations (CSO) engagement in UHC discussions and preparations for the High-Level Meetings in focus countries, regionally; advocating for full incorporation of the right to health and its 4 components of: availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality. This will include advocating: against user fees; for comprehensive SRHR package (services and commodities) as part of UHC costing and coverage; financing and accountability for UHC; Monitoring progress on implementation of UHC commitment - accessibility, affordability, appropriateness and quality of services. ARASA will  among other activities conduct training for  trainers, offer small grants to targeted partners and   make representations of their work at international fora. They will also advocate for Policy Formulation and Law reform, provide funds for health campaigns and advocate  for sexual and Reproductive Health Rights for women seeking abortion and  LGBTI groups.  ARASA is expected to deliver the following outcomes: 1) Civil society will have increased co-ordination, understanding, capacity, agency and strategic alliances, which will contribute to stronger, more inclusive movements for SRHR and will use the skills  to mobilise communities for transformation of social norms and to advocate to their national decision makers for positive changes to law, policy and financial allocations for SRHR.  2) Key influencers and decision-makers will have increased understanding of the need to  promote  the rights to bodily autonomy and integrity and to fulfil SRHR and of the impact of failure to do so on health. With this knowledge, they will  lobby for  positive changes to laws, policies and increased financial allocations  to SRHR.  The long term outcome of positive and progressive changes in laws, policies and social norms will be the realisation of the rights to bodily autonomy and integrity and the fulfilment of SRHR for all LGBTI persons, women, adolescent girls and young women in southern and east Africa.  It is assessed that with the vast expereince and inhouse competence possessed by ARASA, set objective and set  outcomes will be attained. ARASA already has well established human rights networks in the region and will use these links  to achieve the objectives.