We are pleased to announce that ECOM Programs Lead, Yuri Yoursky, has joined the Board of the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+). Yuri will strengthen the expertise of the Global Network with unique knowledge about the EECA region and the needs of LGBT people, so that the agenda relevant to the region will receive greater focus on the world stage.
GNP+ is a strong and authoritative voice of the community of people living with HIV, which influences global processes and strategies to improve the quality of and access to HIV services.
As a person living with HIV for more than 10 years, Yuri strongly believes that it is important to talk about and emphasize all identities of a person, and HIV-positive status is no exception. In addition, HIV status is a significant identity that greatly influences life processes, one’s worldview, and how a person makes decisions.
“I think it’s very important to publicly speak about your different identities, set an example, and come out. It is very important to increase the visibility of HIV-positive people and the LGBT community,” says Yuri.
ECOM’s team is proud of Yuri’s expertise, values and personal activist position, and is confident that his participation in the work of the GNP+ Board will bring significant benefits to LGBT people in the region.
“For me, this is another advocacy opportunity to discuss the problems that HIV-positive representatives of the LGBT community face in the EECA region. This is important because the world's information agenda is oversaturated and the voice of the community can get lost. I am glad that I will be able to present the best practices that we have collected at ECOM to colleagues from all over the world and hear the experiences of other regions. For me, participation in the GNP+ Board is the next step in the development of my personal HIV activism,” commented Yuri Yoursky.
ECOM, as a regional network, has been advocating for access to HIV services for the LGBT community for many years, and developing partnerships with all stakeholders involved in the fight for the rights of communities and key populations. ECOM's representation on the GNP+ Board in the future opens up the opportunity to find new partnerships between organizations from different regions representing different key populations. This will strengthen intersectional work and the regional response to the HIV epidemic.
GNP+ also has strong expertise in countering stigma and discrimination against HIV-positive people and HIV-vulnerable groups. Partnership with GNP+ in this area will strengthen ECOM’s activities related to the decriminalization of HIV and the destigmatization of communities themselves.
“I also see an opportunity at global platforms where GNP+ is present to talk about the financial needs of the EECA region and to work to attract more resources to solve pressing problems for the community,” adds Yuri.
The new GNP+ Board consists of five members from various countries, including Great Britain, Colombia, Estonia, Mexico, and Dominica.
You can find information about all Board members on the website of GNP+ .
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