Protesting Conditions Imposed by US Leadership Against Global HIV/AIDS Act

With regard to the article US accuses NGO of 'trafficking' by Rema Nagarajan in the Hindustan Times, Mumbai and Washington, September 29, 2005, we strongly refute and oppose the charge that SANGRAM supports trafficking for sexual exploitation. The HIV/AIDS prevention programme of Sampada Grameen Mahila Sanstha (SANGRAM) works with women in prostitution as a peer-based initiative that seeks to motivate and empower women on issues concerning their lives and that of their community. SANGRAM is not in support of trafficking for sexual exploitation and instead has been working on HIV/AIDS prevention and for the rights of people in prostitution for more than a decade.

The accusations leveled against SANGRAM in the article are completely and shockingly unfounded. The fallacious character of these allegations can only lead to the supposition that they have been fabricated as a result of SANGRAMs work in favour of the human rights and empowerment of all womenincluding women in prostitution. Such an idea is threatening to conservative forces in the United States and elsewhere.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SANGRAM and Avert Society (USAID) was terminated on mutual grounds because of SANGRAM's refusal to comply with the conditions imposed by the United States' Leadership Against Global HIV/AIDS Act of 2003. Moreover, the US Embassy in Delhi has confirmed in a written letter addressed to SANGRAM and dated October 6, 2005 that, "funding was not removed from SANGRAM for trafficking in persons."

The funding constraints and requirements put forth by the United States do not line up with the needs and policies of the recipient countries. In fact, India's HIV/AIDS policy guidelines, as put out by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), are explicit in supporting high-risk groups including sex workers to combat HIV/AIDS. Requiring HIV/AIDS service organisations to denounce prostitution as a condition of receiving US support is both against the spirit of working respectfully with at-risk persons and a violation of the right of civil society organizations to free expression.

We protest the manner of the United States dealing with aid to developing countries with strings attached. We have seen this time and time again with programs such as India's family planning/population control, structural adjustments programs, the TRIPS agreement, and environmental issues, amongst others. SANGRAM and VAMP would not be true to their mission of local empowerment, including of all women and girls, if they succumbed to the dictates of people who do not apparently understand that victories against HIV/AIDS have been won when those most at risk are respected and empowered.