Our advocacy work plays a major role in the publication of Brazil’s first-ever policy in the area of HIV/AIDS and disability

In October 2009, the Brazilian Ministry of Health published its first-ever official policy in the area of HIV/AIDS and disability entitled Disabled People: Sexual and Reproductive Rights in the Integrality of Healthcare.

Following public consultation, it will become the reference document for policies and governmental action all over Brazil, benefitting the sexual and reproductive rights of millions of disabled people*.

International Service is particularly proud of this result. 

As the Brazilian Federal Government recognises, we have had significant national input into advocating the rights of disabled people and people living with HIV/AIDS.  

The new policy states that the public health system needs to:

    “include disabled people in all the activities of promotion, prevention     and assistance in sexual and reproductive health.”

It also states that in all public health units and services it is
necessary to:

    “make basic and specific equipment and materials available for the     sexual and reproductive health needs of disabled people”.

In August 2006, International Service organised the first national Workshop on the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Disabled People.  Then, together with Brazil’s National Programme for Sexually-Transmitted Diseases & AIDS, we organised the first National Forum on HIV/AIDS and Disability in June 2008.

A significant outcome of the National Forum was the Carta de Florianopolis - a declaration by non-governmental and governmental organisations, representatives and individuals with the objective working to secure the sexual and reproductive rights of disabled people at a national level. 

A large part of the new policy is inspired by the Carta de Florianopolis, which is also annexed to the policy.

Funding from the Big Lottery Fund, has enabled us to play a major role in the achievement of this promising result for disabled people in Brazil.