INDONESIA
Grassroots Voices
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
INFECTIONS: SHOULD THE
SUFFERER BE EXILED?
Pranichia Islamy Resya
According to the data
of The Joint United
Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),
620,000 people are
living with the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV). 38,000 people
on the other hand are
reported to have died due
to the Acquired Immuno
Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS).
HIV/AIDS is an infectious disease
that can possibly be transmitted
through either of the following
methods: unprotected sexual
intercourse with a person who has
contracted HIV, use of unsterilized
syringe, or the pregnancy of a
woman who is positive of HIV.
To put things in a clearer view, it
should be understood that AIDS
itself is a condition or syndrome
that is caused by HIV. A person
with HIV does not necessarily
have AIDS but having the virus
might lead to the weakening of a
person’s immune system which
can eventually cause AIDS.
HIV/AIDS however, is not the only
disease that is transmitted through
sexual intercourse. According
to World Health Organizations
(WHO), there are at least 30 types
of microbes (bacteria, viruses, and
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parasites) that can be transmitted
through sexual contact. religion, corresponding to Article
28J. other related human rights for all
communities of GWL in Indonesia.
It is also a known fact that HIV
identified to be easily transmitted
through homosexual intercourse
than heterosexual intercourse.
According to the International
Journal of Epidemiology, the risk
of HIV transmission is 18% higher
through anal sex than vaginal sex. In responding to the contrast
issue between the needs of
legalization of LGBT for particular
parties and those who oppose
the activity, Jaringan Gaya Warna
Lentera Indonesia (GWL-INA) was
established. GWL-INA is a network
that consists of 68 community-
based and non-governmental
organizations from 25 provinces
which have high concern for HIV-
related issues, healthcare, and
the rights of the LGBT community
in Indonesia. This network was
established on February 4, 2017
in Surabaya. Their mandate is
to be the communication and
coordination center in the program
managements of HIV and also to
strengthen the advocacy regarding
the compliance of sexual health,
rights, reproduction, and any Primarily, the network only
consisted of an e-group composed
of four key people: Dede Oetomo,
Tono Permana Muhammad,
Sigit, and Puji. Eventually, GWL-
INA has also partnered with HIV
Cooperation Program for Indonesia
(HCPI AusAID), Family Health
International (FHI USAID), Burnett
Indonesia, Australian Federation
of AIDS Organisations (AFAO),
National Alliance Council (NAC),
and UNAIDS Country Office in
Indonesia. These partnerships
have provided funding and the
technical assistance needed for
the development of the network.
In Indonesia, the existence of
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgendered (LGBT) people
have not been recognized. The
views on LGBT people is widely
influenced by the majority of
Muslims in the country who do
not support the activities of this
community. Moreover, human
rights which is mentioned in the
Constitution of 1945 is not liberal
but rather human rights which
adhere to and respect law and
All activities in this network have
been organized by the National
Secretariat of GWL-INA in Jakarta.
For the past six years, GWL-INA
has been focusing on building the
internal capacity of the network.
The implementation includes the
training programs for members of
the network’s mailing list. Those
who have interest in participating
in the network should submit
an abstract and the national
secretariat checks the submissions.
The network aims to provide
equal opportunities for different
individuals to build their capacities.
Since the main focus of GWL-INA
is to address the HIV program
implementation for LGBT people,
the network developed the
national strategy and action plan
which also cope the 2010-2014
AIDS National Strategy and Action
Plan and provides clear guidance
for policy makers and stakeholders
in developing plus implementing
HIV and AIDS response program
for the LGBT community.
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