Background on M-Coalition

1. Background on M-Coalition IAC Melbourne July, 2014

2. How’s it like in MENA • An epidemiological vulnerability + + + of MSM in the region ... prevalence of 4% to 28% in a low prevalence setting among general population(less than 1%) But ... • Very limited access to prevention and care ... Because ... • MSM in the region combine the statutory deficit: S & D + + +, violence, rejection, barriers to care, self-stigma, self-exclusion, ... • Very little research to document needs / realities of MSM • insufficient funds

3. Solution • Recall the link between statutory deficits and immune deficiency • Change the look on MSM and strengthen the will to act internally in associations • Enhance the quality / continuity programs emphasizing the need to enroll in a combined prevention approach that enhances both the knowledge, will and power to protect • Strengthen the knowledge of society actors to plead for better access to a combined MSM/HIV prevention • Show that it is possible to facilitate the access of MSM in combination prevention in hostile environments • Promote networking between LGBT associations HR and associations fighting against HIV

4. Aalisoutak • Practical manual to assist civil society and HR defenders in the fight against AIDS in Francophone countries of North Africa and the Middle East • Designed by MSM GF 2011 • Adapted by ALCS (Morocco) through a participatory process in connection with seven other associations, ANISS, APCS (Algeria), Marsa, Helem, OSE (Lebanon), SOS peer educators (Mauritania) and ATL (Tunisia)

5. 3 chapters and an appendix Methodological hints to learn how to advocate for access to a combined MSM HIV prevention 5 factsheets detailing how to raise funds, encourage search, improve the quality of action, fighting against the S & D and secure interventions with MSM Educational benchmarks to facilitate adaptation, organization and facilitation of training sessions from the contents of Sections A & B resource materials and websites for more information on the topics covered in the manual

6. IntroducingAaliSoutakat the pre-conference MSM GF 2012. • IntroducingAaliSoutak in MENA, Global Village, Washington DC IAC 2012. • Plenarypresentationwith teams fromother countries at the IAS Conference Washington DC (July 2012) • IntroducingAaliSoutakat the MSMGF NWZ, Washington DC (July 2012)

7. Logic behind M-Coalition 3 main activities have emerged from this last initiative: • Advocacy to promote research among MSM • Promoting to train media and legal agents • Encourage networking between organizations and activists     "We all do a great job of advocacy now, but we are isolated. Why can not we work together more closely? We have the same context, we can share the lessons we can cooperate in research, and we can work on advocacy. Together we will be stronger and more visible at regional and international levels"

8. Creating the coalition • Over a period of one year, we remained in touch, we met, we Skyped, we called and finally wrote the proposal • Beirut was chosen to be the hosting city to ensure the ease of work and the slightly higher level of sexual freedoms in the region

9. Thank you www.m-coalition.org info@m-coalition.org

10. Creation of M-Coalition Saja Michael IAC Melbourne July, 2014

11. Regional network of activists on HIV among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in Middle East and North Africa MENA

12. Creating the coalition • Under the auspices of the Arab Foundation for Freedom and Equality (AFE) and with technical support from MSMGF 13 militants five Arab countries - Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia - met in Lebanon January 2014. the meeting resulted in the creation of the coalition whose secretariat is located in Beirut, Lebanon

13. Vision & Mission • The visionof M-Coalition is an Arab world where right to health and all other human rights of MSM are recognized, realized and protected. • The Missionof « M-Coalition » is to facilitate the access of MSM in the Arab world to, services of prevention, care, treatment and quality support through advocacy, creation of a favorable environment, capacity building and follow-up, research, exchange of good practices and coordination on a local, regional and international levels and this, by collaborating with other structures of health and human rights.

14. Creating the coalition Creation of M-Coalition, Jan 2014, Lebanon

15. Governing Structure

16. Steering Committee • Governed by 13-member steering committee of regionally recognized advocates and HIV/AIDS professionals. • From multiple countries in the Arab region • involve MSM and MSM living with HIV at all levels of its strategy, policy development and implementation, in addition to internal governing processes. • Geographical coverage of M-Coalition in the Arab world: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, North Sudan, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

17. Governance and strategic vision meeting, Tunisia, May 2014

18. Thank you www.m-coalition.org info@m-coalition.org

19. Strategic vision Johnny Tohme IAC Melbourne July, 2014

20. Strategic vision • The M-Coalition will work to ensure an effective response to the rapidly escalating HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Arab world • It strives to involve MSM and MSM living with HIV at all levels of its strategy, policy development and implementation, and internal governing processes

21. Operating goals

22. Operating goals

23. Operating goals

24. Operating goals

25. Operating goals

26. Key agents To accomplish our vision we need to make sure that: • - the MSM community is involved every step of the way • PLWHIV are involved every step of the way • Collaborate with main partners in the region: • WHO • UN agencies • Regional networks • CSO (health, rights, MSM, HIV, LGBT…) • Governments (league of Arab states)

27. Thank you www.m-coalition.org info@m-coalition.org jtohme@afemena.org