Gaurav: reducing HIV-related stigma among female sex workers

HIV-positive sex workers are a highly marginalized group in India because of their HIV status and because their work is considered immoral and illegal. As a result they experience intersecting stigmas that impede their health and livelihood options. Using a community-based participatory approach, this project aimed to improve the quality of life of HIV-positive female sex workers (FSWs) by addressing the stigma and discrimination they face. The initiative was conducted in Bagalkot and Belgaum districts in north Karnataka and was part of a larger effort to adapt and pilot test a global stigma reduction framework to the Indian context.

To read the Summary Report, click here. 

Other Case Studies in this Project

• Reducing Stigma to Improve Engagement in HIV Care among Men who Have Sex with Men 
• Protecting the Rights of People Living with HIV in the Workplace 
• Integrating a Youth-based Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Curriculum in Higher Education 
• Stigma Busters: Empowering and Enabling Local Governance to Work towards Stigma-free Gram Panchyat