1. Jamaica has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the world, estimated at 32%. However, stigma, discrimination, violence and homophobia prevent MSM from accessing HIV prevention and care. 2. The PK communication initiative aims to strengthen advocacy capacities of MSM and amplify their voices to trigger change, raise awareness, and promote tolerance. It will collect oral testimonies from MSM to communicate their health concerns and experiences to policymakers and the public. 3. Collecting oral testimonies directly from MSM will provide firsthand accounts of the issues they face and encourage dialogue, while

1. November 1-2 2012
8th BC Gay Men’s Health Summit
Reconsidering Social Determinants
Vancouver
Voices of the Most-At-Risk Populations
(MARPs) of Jamaica
By Jean Claude Louis, project
consultant
Vancouver
Initiative

2. Jamaica
• Jamaica is home to several tourist attractions.
• 2.5 million Jamaicans and Jamaican
descendants live abroad while 2,868,380 live in
Jamaica(World Fact book 2011).
• Jamaica is facing many challenges due to the
deterioration of economic conditions.
• Relies mostly on multilateral funding. Owes US$
18 billion to IMF. 140% of its GDP(comparable
to Greece.
• Poverty and marginalization continue to affect
large segments of the population

3. Public Health Challenges
• HIV and AIDS stand as one of the biggest
threats to the Jamaican & human
development.
• The first case of AIDS identified in 1982
• By 2005 AIDS was the fourth leading
cause of death among all Jamaicans
• Between Jan. 1982 & June 2007: 12,063
cases of AIDS were diagnosed;6,848
people died as of AIDS-related illnesses.
(National HIV/AIDS Control Programme, Ministry of Health/Panos Guide)

4. What is the actual situation?
• Today, Jamaica has an estimated HIV
prevalence rate of 1.7 percent. UNAIDS
estimates that there are 32,000
Jamaicans living with HIV of which just
over 6,000 are currently on treatment
National HIV/AIDS Control Programme. (Call
for Concept Papers - HIV/AIDS Prevention for Most-At-Risk Groups in Jamaica)
• HIV remains a complex issue among the
Most-At-Risk populations (MARP), Sex
workers, vulnerable youth and particularly
Gay men & Men having Sex with Men
(MSM).

5. The situation of the MARPS
• HIV prevalence is highest among MSM and
among sex workers, compared to any other
most-at-risk population
• The HIV prevalence among MSM varied from
6.1% in the Dominican Republic to 32% in
Jamaica and 18.1 % in Haiti.
(SW:4.5%;homeless:8%
• Jamaica has the highest HIV prevalence rate
among MSM in the Caribbean and at number
two in the world. Only Kenya with 43 percent has
a higher prevalence rate.(UNAIDS,2010)

6. Issues affecting Gay men, MSM
1. Being MSM/Gay men and HIV positive carries double stigma
2. Stigma and discrimination, coupled with the legal issues
pertaining to homosexuality and general homophobia prevent
MSM/Gay men from accessing early needed health care
3. Very difficult to provide information needed to prevent the spread
of HIV
4. High murder rates amongst the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and
Trans-gendered (LGBT) community : 30 gay men were murdered
between 1997 and 2000.
5. Police do no compile statistics on attacks against gay men/MSM
and lesbians. In 2010 alone, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-
Sexuals, and Gays (J-FLAG) received more than 40 reports of
attacks on persons in Jamaica based on their sexual orientation.

7. Issues affecting MSM/Gay men.
• The Charter of Rights passed by both Houses of
Parliament (March 2011) guarantees certain
fundamental rights which were never before protected in
the Constitution, but Gay men/MSM ignored.
• Both legislators or public defenders ignored argument
from MSM advocacy groups for the repeal of legislation
that bans gay adults from exercising their sexual
preference .(Jamaica Gleaner)
• Police continue to harass MSM for their sexual
orientation. They raided many times the 2 existing gay
bars. Victims (anonymously) have to search medical
treatment for injuries sustained in the attacks.
(http://therainbowpost.com/2011/03/01/jamaican-gay-bar-raided)

8. Responses
• The response to HIV and AIDS in Jamaica is
one of the strongest in the Caribbean, however
• Stigma, discrimination, violence; generalized
homophobia remain the greatest barriers for
MSM to access to prevention and care.
• Fear drives a great many MSM underground
and into heterosexual relationships as a
means of social and economic survival.
• They are kept away from health services
where their needs can be effectively met
• As a result MSM, gay men, Sex Workers &
their clients are becoming more and more
vulnerable and form the MARPs.
•

9. PK communication initiative
• To strengthen the capacities of MSM/Gays to
advocate and create awareness about the
issues affecting them
• Trigger real change and raise awareness among
policy makers and stakeholders and the general
society.
• Fight discrimination and stigma against MSM
and promote gay’s men health.
• Promote, through the media, tolerance and
accountability towards MSM in the response to
HIV.Support and hold focused activities among
journalists & MSM.

10. Some Key activities
•Baselines collection on media’s treatment
and coverage of MSM issues
•Media training for print &
broadcasters/editors involving stakeholders
and MSM
•Media fellowships
•Stakeholder consultations (health providers,
legislators, media) & government on OT
•A team of journalists & officials to exchange
with Vancouver around WAD(Nov. 26-Dec.1)

11. OT,a key tool in Panos work
•Panos utilizes Oral Testimonies as a key value in its
community work to amplify the voices of those whose
economic, social and/or educational position has
excluded and marginalized from the circles of influence
and power.
•Panos has trained and supported several vulnerable
groups to HIV and AIDS, such as sex workers and youth
infected or affected by HIV, and youth living in areas
prone to child trafficking, in using oral testimonies to
communicate their concerns and perspective to media
and policy makers. Their own voices encourage public
dialogue and debate

12. Oral Testimonies For MSM/Gaymen
• To build and strengthen the capacity of MSM/
gay men in Jamaica to communicate their
concerns through innovative communication
technologies(photo voice, digital media,
blogging, social media)
• The OT collection will highlight issues affecting
Gay men’s health through their own voices and
provide first accounts to policy makers and
stakeholders.

13. The process
• Three workshops targeting thirty-six
(36) MSM selected by the partners
and through Panos screening are
trained in 3 main cities
• Every MSM/Gay man trained will
collect a set (5-10) of testimonies

14. Why MSM collect the OT
• In the best situation to do it as they are affected
by the same issues.
• Highlight the diversity and multiplicity of
views and responses from various
backgrounds
• Provide firsthand accounts of the affected
groups while ensuring complete
anonymity.
• Encourage public debate and dialogue
• Produce powerful and realistic evidence of
the less visible
• Opportunity to convey their stories to a
wider audience

15. Jona, 15 was expelled a year ago from school because he was too effeminate. He
describes reactions from school, community, families, and friends and how he accepts his
life like an effeminate
Do you believe that the buggery law will ever be reviewed, as said by
the present prime minister?
“I think she’s joking. Any prime minister who comes and says that they
also are going to do that, they could also be joking. Because there’s
a face off into that. They could be looked upon, they might not win
elections again. The mass in Jamaica are heterosexual. Anyone
who comes and wants to change it, must be careful of what he or
she is doing and has to do it slowly and gradually.”

16. Zuma is a 36 year old security guard. He is MSM and shared his views towards transactional sex
within the MSM community
Why many MSM conduct transactional sex, whether under cover or openly,
Zuma views towards this issue stated…
“Financial gains of course. Many of them have been turned out by their parents
and they have bills to pay for example light water, rent etc…so therefore
they have no other alternative but resort to this, they’re sort of limited.”
About MSM being brutally murdered while conducting transactional sex…
“It is not a good feeling for sure. Because they are human beings and
whatever they are doing, I believe there’s a reason. Yes, they are human
beings and the way in which they are treated…it is not right. As a MSM, I’m
not comfortable seeing the abuse and disregard of our lives in that sort of
way.”

17. “Teach” is a 31 year old gay teacher that shares his
views on MSM behavior towards education. He said it’s
very important to get an education
Do you believe that the government is doing enough to help these MSM towards
education?
“Listen, remember the society we live in. Remember we live in Jamaica! And
the government hands are tied, so to speak. You are asked….I know that you
must have a Joshua, you must have a Moses. You must have somebody who is
going to stand out one day and be the different person in the group. But who‘s
going to do that? Portia Simpson Miller tried it, but persons are pressuring her to
go back on her word that she said about the buggery law. I don’t see the
buggery law changing for now. I wouldn’t say the government is not doing
anything, but remember that we got a law of the country. And right now,
homosexuality is illegal…..
.

18. Javed is among the fortunate and was very inspiring . He’s studied abroad and back to serve
Jamaica. Advises to young MSM and how homophobia help him to excel in his studies .
First of all, I think I would be lying if I say everybody or
anybody can overcome the challenges that homophobia
brings and can excel. I think it really does take a toll on you
when you are being ostracized by your peers and
unfortunately unless there are structures put in place to
support people and to encourage them, a lot of people will
be left behind, because of their gender identity. At the same
time I have been able to use homophobia as my motivation.
If I wasn’t lucky enough to realize that through education I
could find a way to leave Jamaica and escape the trappings
of our conservative Christian culture that legitimizes
discrimination, I would have never worked as hard……….

19. Expected results
•Expanding local & international awareness and
enhancing public debate through information
sharing
•Stakeholder consultations (health providers,
legislators, media) around government policy about
the Ots
•Publication and distribution of 500 booklets of Oral
Testimonies region wide
•Improved understanding of MSM situation by the
media and the society & policy change

20. Everyone should be able to live
his life with respect and dignity

21. REAL PEOPLE – REAL VOICES
The mission of PK is to amplify the voices
of the poor and marginalized and ensure
their inclusion in public policy debate to
enable Caribbean people, wherever they
are, to exercise their human rights and
communicate their own development
agenda.

22. Panos Caribbean is firmly headquartered in
Haiti & Jamaica with satellite offices in the
Netherlands and other caribbean countries
Contact :
haiti@ panoscaribbean.org
jamaica@panoscaribbean.org