LUBOMBO MULTIMEDIA GENDER AWARE, HIV AND AIDS POLICY
1. AIM
This policy aims to ensure that Lubombo Multimedia which incorporates both Community Radio and Community Newspaper play a part in mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS and to ensure a workplace free of discrimination against those living with the HIV and AIDS. It is also aimed at increasing the quality of reporting on HIV and AIDS as well as ensuring that the gender dimensions of the virus are addressed through editorial, programming and marketing outputs of Lubombo Multimedia.
Through this policy, we want to adopt and apply a non discriminatory approach to both our employees and as well as members of the public in the rural areas who are most affected by HIV and AIDS and who are also our major partners. We want to disseminate well researched and informative news and programming that are going to enable them to take informed decisions on HIV and AIDS and other social problems that are linked to the pandemic like poverty.
2. BACKGROUND
Swaziland has among the highest rates of HIV and AIDS infection in the world, with the prevalence rate among women higher than that of men by 39.6%. Gender inequality especially the inabilities of women to, in many instances insist on safer sex is a major driver of the pandemic in Swaziland. Women also bear a higher level of burden of care. Like every media house Lubombo Multimedia has experienced the direct and indirect effects of HIV and AIDS.
The first case of HIV in Swaziland was diagnosed in 1986 and the first AIDS case in 1987. Since then, the number of persons living with HIV and AIDS has increased rapidly throughout the population. The latest sentinel surveillance survey recorded a 39.6% infection rate down from 42.6%. The decline according to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been attributed to the dedicated educational and sensitisation efforts across the country in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
The epidemic in Swaziland is primarily driven by, among other things multiple concurrent partners. For a population of about a million people the statistics are still very high and alarming. As a result, Lubombo Multimedia has recognised the threat posed by HIV and AIDS to the health and social being of its staff, their families and as well as its target audience that is primarily based in rural areas and living under extreme poverty which is also a major driver of HIV and AIDS. Lubombo Multimedia, therefore, commits itself to dedicating more space for HIV and coverage through editorial and programming to ensure that the impact of HIV and AIDS is mitigated.
The HIV and AIDS and Gender Baseline Study conducted as part of the Media Action Plan (MAP) on HIV and AIDS and Gender in 2005 found that in Swaziland HIV coverage constituted 10% of all stories. People with HIV constituted a mere 10% of sources for news. Only 10% of coverage in Swaziland had local as opposed to national origin. Despite the disproportionate burden shouldered by women with respect to HIV and AIDS, they constituted 34% of the sources in Swaziland, and their voices dominated only in the prevention topic category. The study also revealed that the gender dynamics of the pandemic are not well understood. For example, in the prevention topic category, prevention of mother to child transmission and cross generation sex hardly featured in coverage. Care constituted only 12% coverage compared to the regional average of 13% despite the critical significance of this issue for women and girls. Lubombo Multimedia, therefore, has a duty not only to its employees but to the society as a whole, to participate in preventative campaigns; and help those who need to access treatment and care; as well as help ameliorate the effects of this on women.
3. HOW THE POLICY CAME ABOUT
This policy, to be adopted by the Board is part of the Media Action Plan on HIV and AIDS and Gender led by the Southern African Editor’s Forum. Gender Links and Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), which lead the policy sector of MAP, facilitated the policy process that involved extensive consultations with management, a policy seminar, the establishment of a task team with departmental representatives, and the circulation of several drafts of the policy before its presentation to the board. The policy is accompanied by an action plan that will be used to monitor implementation.
4. FRAMEWORK
The guiding frameworks for this policy are the International Labor Organisation (ILO) 111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Code of Conduct on HIV an AIDS and Employment, the SADC Declaration on HIV and AIDS, the Abuja Declaration, the Declaration of the UN General Assembly Special Session on HV and AIDS, the National Multi-sectoral HIV and AIDS policy, National Constitution, National Gender Policy and Southern Africa Editors Forum (SAEF) ethical reporting principles of HIV and AIDS and Gender.
5.0 WORKPLACE
5.1 RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES WITH HIV AND AIDS
5.1.1 GENERAL RIGHTS
5.1.1.1 Lubombo Multimedia will not require any volunteer, employee or job applicant to undergo HIV and AIDS testing. Testing will never be a pre-requisite to accessing employment, training or promotion opportunities.
5.1.1.2 Lubombo Multimedia will treat all employees and prospective employees with HIV and AIDS in a just, humane and life-affirming manner.
5.1.1.3 The organisation will protect employees living with HIV and AIDS against discrimination, victimisation, and harassment irregardless of their sex.
5.1.1.4 Lubombo Multimedia will treat employees with HIV in the same way as those with other illnesses in terms of benefits and compensation.
5.1.1.5 Lubombo Multimedia will treat all employees with HIV and AIDS and those caring for or supporting family members and friends with HIV and AIDS with empathy and dignity.
5.1.1.6 Lubombo Multimedia guarantees that no employee or volunteer will be dismissed, denied access to promotion or training or suffer any adverse consequence as a result of their HIV status.
6.0 CONFIDENTIALITY
6.1 The organisation encourages a supportive workplace where employees can discuss HIV and AIDS openly and where women and men with HIV are encouraged to live openly with HIV, without suffering stigma or any other repercussions.
6.2 At the same time, the organisation recognises the sensitive nature of HIV and AIDS and undertakes to ensure that all employees’ rights to privacy and dignity are respected, especially where employees do not choose to disclose their HIV status.
6.3 Where an employee elects to reveal their HIV status to a manager or supervisor, Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that this information remains confidential.
6.4 Any unauthorised disclosure of employee’s HIV related information shall constitute a disciplinary offence and disciplinary action taken.
7.0 PREVENTION
7.1 INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RISING
7.1.1 As part of its HIV awareness campaign, Lubombo Multimedia will conduct appropriate, accurate and up to date information and education programmes to inform and educate all employees about HIV and AIDS, and how to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections once every month.
7.1.2 These education and awareness campaigns will seek to explore the power relations between women and men that underpin the pandemic, and how these can be more effectively addressed. Subjects such as negotiating safe sex; the female condom, dangers of multiple partners and research on microbicides will be included in the awareness campaigns. The educational programmes will empower women to understand their rights both in the workplace and outside to encourage them to protect themselves from unprotected sex and contracting HIV and AIDS.
7.1.3 The education and awareness campaigns will include a component on the relationship between gender violence and HIV and AIDS, and the need for all employees, especially women, to be aware of the need for survivors of sexual assault to avail themselves of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) as soon as possible.
7.1.4 Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that educational programmes also encourage men to take responsibility to be involved in the prevention of HIV and AIDS.
7.1.5 The organisation undertakes to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS through its news content, programming and marketing (advertising) campaigns.
8.0 PREVENTION STRATEGY
8.1 Lubombo Multimedia encourages and promotes faithfulness among married people as a preventative measure and where they decide to have more than one partners they are encouraged to use condoms. Both male and female condoms will be made available at all times at the workplace.
9.0 TESTING
9.1 As part of its employee assistance programme, Lubombo Multimedia will promote and facilitate access to confidential HIV testing and counseling for all employees who wish to know their HIV status. Conscious of the gender dimensions of this, appropriate ways will be developed for encouraging both women and men to go for testing, and for encouraging them to do so with their intimate partners.
9.2 In accordance with the relevant legislation, Lubombo Multimedia will not require any employee or job applicant to undergo HIV and AIDS testing and HIV testing will not be a prerequisite to accessing employment, training or promotion opportunities.
10.0 TREATMENT
10.1 The organisation will ensure that a holistic approach to treatment of HIV and AIDS is applied through the provision of access to drugs and good nutrition.
10.2 Lubombo Multimedia shall motivate all its staff and volunteers to consider knowing their status so that they protect themselves from contracting the virus. Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) personnel will be invited to station to conduct lessons among staff on importance of testing and positive living.
10.3 Treatment programs shall be accessed by both men and women working at Lubombo Multimedia.
10.4 A first aid kit shall be made available so that both employees and volunteers can access treatment and protective measures in-house. Employees who have been diagnosed by professional doctors to take ARVs will be encouraged to take them without discrimination and stigmatisation.
10.5 Lubombo Multimedia will make sure that employees are equipped on how to administer first aid and the first aid kit shall be accessible to everyone containing disinfectant, gloves and bandages.
11.0 CARE AND SUPPORT
11.1 The organisation shall ensure that care and support of employees, volunteers and dependants with HIV and AIDS is consistent with how people with other life threatening illnesses such as TB, Cancer and other conditions receive medical care.
11.2 Information on positive living shall be made available through educational programmes and information sharing about positive living.
11.3 Lubombo Multimedia acknowledges that women are more likely to provide care for the sick and orphaned children and the organisation shall ensure that provisions for psychosocial support, flexible working hours are put in place.
11.4 Programmes encouraging discussions of how gender inequality affects HIV and AIDS treatment and care shall be put in place and men shall be encouraged to be involved in care work.
12.0 EDITORIAL PRACTICES
12.1 Editorial
12.1.1 Quantity of coverage
12.1.1.2 Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that each week it produces at least three original HIV and AIDS stories, in addition to those that might be generated through wire services.
12.1.1.2 The organisation will establish a special beat to report on HIV and AIDS and related issues. Journalists who cover this beat will be accorded the same status and have access to the same resources as other journalists working at Lubombo Multimedia.
12.1.1.3 The HIV and AIDS beat will be rotated every three months to ensure that all reporters gain experience of covering HIV and AIDS, and are able to mainstream this in all the beats that they cover.
12.1.1.4 The news team will routinely pass on HIV and AIDS stories that do not receive adequate coverage in the news to feature programmes in the station.
13.0 Topic treatment
13.1.1 Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that in its coverage of HIV and AIDS, it gives equal attention to prevention, treatment, care and support.
13.1.2 Particular attention will be paid to the gender dimensions of these, such as the unequal sexual power relations that underpin the spread of the pandemic; differences between male and female attitudes towards treatment; and the unequal burden of care shouldered by women that adds to their unwaged work in the home. The cultural elements that contribute to these will also be addressed so that people understand their bearing regarding the virus.
13.1.3 Given the high levels of gender violence in Swaziland, and the fact that the intersection between gender violence and HIV and AIDS is not well understood, Lubombo Multimedia will give particular attention to this subject and to creating awareness on the need for survivors of sexual assault to avail themselves of have access to ARVs.
14.0 Sources
14.1 In all stories dealing with HIV and AIDS, every effort will be made to ensure that People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWA) are accessed for comment on issues around HIV and AIDS.
14.2 In all stories dealing with HIV and AIDS, Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that women and men are accessed for comment.
15.0 Ethical principles
15.1 Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that all stories conform to the ethical principles developed and adopted by the Southern African Editors Forum (SAEF), attached at Annex B).
16.0 Language
16.1 Lubombo Multimedia will develop a style sheet to guide the use of appropriate language in reporting on HIV and AIDS and, gender and ensure that journalists do not use language that stereotypes, stigmatises and demeans people living with HIV and AIDS. In addition, a glossary of words will be developed for consistency purposes and for the appropriate use of acceptable and gender sensitive language.
17.0 Capacity building
17.1 In addition to knowledge acquired by reporters serving on the beat, the head of news will organise special seminars and briefing sessions, andprovide reporters with training opportunities, to broaden their horizons.
18.0 Programming
18.1 Lubombo Multimedia will continue to ensure that it carries at least two programmes a week dedicated to living positively with HIV and AIDS and other related subjects.
18.2 The organisation will devote special slots twice per week to HIV specific programming. These programmes will be broadcast during prime time to ensure maximum listenership and interactive targeting young women and men.
18.3 Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that programmes on living positively with HIV and AIDS carry a holistic and balanced approach including drugs, good nutrition and a positive outlook.
18.4 The organisation will ensure that HIV and AIDS is mainstreamed in all its programming. This includes programming that targets people without HIV and encourages them to stay negative.
18.5 Lubombo Multimedia will encourage all its presenters with HIV to participate actively in programming and to live openly with HIV and AIDS.
18.6 The organisation will provide training to all presenters to assist them to deal with controversial and difficult issues arising out of HIV and AIDS.
19.0 Sales and Marketing
19.1 Lubombo Multimedia will ensure that there is consistency in the standards applied to both editorial and marketing.
19.2 The organisation will not advertise any HIV treatment products that provide misleading, scientifically and medically inaccurate and unsubstantiated information.
19.3 Lubombo Multimedia will not advertise any product that purports to cure HIV or that undermines medically and scientifically accepted treatment protocols.
19.4 The organisation will develop its own internal guidelines to ensure that any advertisements it flights do not promote stigma and discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS.
20.0 Management system
20.1 Lubombo Multimedia will appoint point person department, for the HIV and AIDS and Gender policies. These together will constitute a task team.
20.2 The task team will be responsible for the implementation of the HIV and AIDS and Gender Action Plan.
20.3 The policy and action plan will be reviewed every two years and as and when it is necessary in light of emerging medical and scientific knowledge about the epidemic and the changing environment.