Siaap India

SIAAP is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation born out of an advocacy intervention in 1990, while successfully challenging the illegal detention of female sex workers (FSWs) in Chennai - the first people who tested positive for HIV infection in India. Over women were freed and a precedent set against detention of HIV infected people. The case led to the development of national policy centred on upholding the rights of people in HIV prevention and care efforts in the country, and to SIAAP’s lasting commitment to promoting a rights- and agency-based approach to sexual and reproductive health (SRHR), including HIV prevention and care, and mental health, especially for key populations. In the last 25 years we have developed models to promote non-discriminatory sexual and reproductive health policies and services, many of which have been scaled up nationally. Currently we are working to empower young people and voluntary sex workers to increase their right to safety, sexuality, consent and mental health.