The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka conducted a Sensitisation and Capacity Building Workshop for Health Sector Education Institutes at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital on the 26^th of July 2016. The workshop was conducted under the GFMSA project for several doctors and nurses of the hospital.

Expert Resource persons from the GFMSA Technical Hub and the Community Role models Hub made presentations on subjects such as “introduction to stigma and discrimination in relation to HIV” and the “importance of reducing stigma and discrimination with reference to risk for HIV and access to services”, “the current situation of HIV/ STI in Sri Lanka” with an emphasis on the status of MSM and TG communities and the “importance of testing, an introduction to Human Rights and the rights of the LGBTIQ community” (how the law and human rights impact the lives of LGBTIQ), and how enforcement of laws and protection of human rights can impact their life.

Sensitization Workshop to discuss local and global health sector response on reducing HIV transmission

A Sensitization Workshop was held on the 30^th July at the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka for representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Commission, Bar Association and Legal Aid Unit of the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo. The workshop consisted of a panel discussion between participants and members of the GFMSA Technical Hub of Experts and the Community Role Models Hub. Some of the areas discussed during the session included local and global health sector response on reducing HIV transmission through reduction of stigma and discrimination, the legal, social and economic impact on increased vulnerabilities due to stigma and discrimination, and the practical applicability of laws related to LGBTIQ in Sri Lanka.