- Research
ISDS’ works in this area started in 2002 with a ground-breaking research “Understanding HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination in
In response to a request from the International Labour Organizations and the United Nations Development Programme, ISDS conducted another study on HIV-related S&D at workplace, and findings of the research were disseminated in the United Nations system.
Also on the issue of S&D, from 2006, with funds from the USAID and PEPFAR, the Institute collaborated with ICRW and Horizons to undertake an intervention research aiming at reducing S&D in hospital context.
- Advocacy
ISDS has been active in advocating for rights of people living with HIV and AIDS and reduction of HIV-related S&D. The strength of ISDS' advocacy lies in empirical evidence yielded from research and choice of partners. For example, the Institute has collaborated with the Central Commission for Education and Communication of the Vietnamese Communist Party to build capacity for Party’s organizations and the mass media in their works to reduce stigma and discrimination (S&D) against PLHIV. Two important documents produced through this collaboration include an anti-S&D guideline for Party and mass media organizations, and a toolkit for actions. The guideline and the toolkit have been used nationwide by various organizations at central and local levels, generated a lot of interest in the issue.
Exhibitions organized by ISDS for paintings by artists living with HIV and photos of PLHIV became high-profiled events with a lot of media coverage, which helps to spread the message and catch the attention of policy-makers and public.
The Institute’s work on S&D contributed to the passage of HIV/AIDS Law in 2006, which strongly commits to protection of PLHIV’s rights, and continues to have impact in keeping S&D high in the agenda of the national response.
The success of these activities has secured further successive funds from the U.S. Presidential Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to continue, including intervention programs carried out at communes in both North and South of Vietnam.
- Information sharing
To reach the national audience, ISDS’ collaboration with the Vietnamese National Television resulted in a number of roundtable discussions and talks as well as reports, all aiming at reduction of S&D and promotes rights of PLHIV.
- Capacity-building and community development
ISDS has helped building capacity for Party and government organizations at both the national and sub-national levels throughout
At hospitals, ISDS also produced a toolkit for health facilities to improve care and treatment of PLHIV through reduction of stigma and discrimination. In a related move, the Institute operates its counseling program for PLHIV at Dong Da Hospital in
At schools, ISDS produced and disseminated information booklet on HIV and S&D; and organized talks and training on the issues for teachers and students.
Together with training, ISDS has been providing institutional support to a number of self-help groups of PLHIV through technical assistance for their proposal development, plan and activities as well as accounting assistance.
Another building activity that the Institute has provided is support to the Vietnamese Civil Society Partnership Platform on AIDS (VCSPA) from its conception - by sharing staff time, providing legal and administrative assistance, and physically hosts VCSPA. VCSPA’s goal is to increase the meaningful participation of civil society into the national response to HIV/AIDS. Its membership consists of over 100 civil society groups and organizations, many of them are self-help groups of PLHIV. By supporting VCSPA, ISDS is supporting PLHIV groups to partner with other segments of civil society, to have a collected and stronger voice, to join more coordinated efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and to gain position that they deserve in the national response.