Advocacy

VSO-RAISA is emerging as a leader in the region for gender and HIV advocacy work, with a particular focus on reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS care on women and girls.

Our work carried out in collaboration with the South African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) has involved training members of parliament from several SADC countries on how they can effectively articulate HIV/AIDS issues in their respective parliaments, with an emphasis on the reduction of the burden of HIV/AIDS care on women, girls and older people. The training motivated attendees to support and encourage more advocacy initiatives surrounding this issue in their respective countries, actively spreading the message.

At the 2010 annual RAISA conference, which focused on the themes of governance and HIV, advocacy for policies supporting home-based care workers and seeking to reduce the burden of care on women and girls received a boost. The conference was addressed by South Africa’s First Lady, Thobeka Zuma, and former Botswana President, Festus Mogae, both of whom urged parliamentarians and other attendees to take care workers’ issues on board. The conference and training have been followed up in each RAISA country with a 'Making Care Work Count' policy development workshop for members of parliament, government ministries and civil society, resulting in measurable progression in the adoption of care work policies.

Read the advocacy page for further information on VSO's local, national and international advocacy work.