Statement of principles

30/10/15

 

We are an Activist organisation and we create actions according to the following principles:

 

1. Visibility

   1. Honesty

      1. We are honourable in all our dealings.  We mean what we say, we say what we mean and we do what we say.

      2. We speak the truth.

   2. Pride

      1. We advocate that people can take pride in their PrEP use.  They are doing the best thing for their own bodies and for their community in stopping the transmission of the HIV virus.  That is a fantastic thing.

      2. We are proud of our group and its work for the community

      3. We are proud to be sexual.  We are “pro sex”. We do not accept stigma and shaming for

         1. Sex, quanity of sex, frequency of sex, choice of sexual partners or method of sex

         2. PrEP use or its sexual implications

      4. We do not support shame about sex and PrEP use.  

         1. We do not create secret spaces or support structures for people who feel the need for privacy.  To do so would be counter to our message of pride.  

         2. We understand that people are at different starting points in their journey to open and proud PrEP use.  

         3. We support others and other groups in creating safe spaces for counselling, peer support and venting for those that feel the need for privacy but that is not our particular role.  

         4. We will refer those that do feel the need for privacy to those support structures and look forward to the time when they can openly join us in proud PrEP use.

   3. Openness

      1. PrEP users and seekers have nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be proud of.  We encourage open discussion about PrEP use at all levels.

      2. As Committee members we are open to talking about our own PrEP use.

      3. We do not encourage secrecy in relation to any dealings with PrEP.  Client confidential information being the only exception.

   4. Advocacy

      1. We will speak out in line with our principles

      2. We promote that PrEP use is a right for all those who seek it to protect themselves.  

      3. We will speak from our community and for our community and to the benefit of our community.

      4. We will speak to those that control resources and create policy.

      5. We will promote that our community will do and speak for itself wherever possible.

   5. Leadership

      1. We lead by example.  In our roles as PrEPaccessNOW committee members we are open, honest, proud and direct about our own PrEP use and support of PrEP use.

      2. The things we say and do reflect our principles.

      3. We promote and provide an image of a community of proud, open, safe,  responsible PrEPusers as an ideal and worthy goal.

      4. Our actions and objectives are about change.  We are acting to lead our community to better access, awareness, pride and use of PrEP to protect themselves and others.

      5. Our actions and objectives will lead our community out of fear, ignorance, shame and intolerance of PrEP use.

2. Transparency

   1. Trust

      1. Our statements are researched and verified

      2. We don’t reveal personal confidential information that comes into our care

   2. Accountability

      1. We will report to our community on a regular basis and let them know what we are doing

      2. Our financial dealings will be audited

      3. Our processes are open to view by each other and our community.

      4. We share a workspace to increase our visibility and accountability to each other.

3. We share

   1. Our material is open source

      1. We share all the material produced and intellectual property with other individuals and groups that have similar goals.  We work to give to our community and sharing in this fashion helps our work to go further and to reach more people.  We have “open source” copyright on all our products and encourage its use and distribution.

   2. Collaboration

      1. We work with other individuals and groups who share similar goals where we can

         1. We do not publically criticise or disparage the work of other individuals and groups that share similar goals.

4. ​Inclusion

   1. 1. 1. We come from a diverse community.  We seek to include everyone from that community in our messages, actions and services.

         2. We recognise that it’s not practical nor effective to try and include everyone every time.  When we focus on various sub groups, we will try and reach the others later.

         3. We welcome diversity in our Committee composition.

            1. We recognise that diversity will happen organically over time as we reach further into the community and all segments of our community become motivated by the PrEP good news message.

            2. We will be careful not create barriers to diverse representation on the Committee.

         4. We will be mindful of barriers to diversity and will act in an open, transparent, visible way that welcomes diversity in all our actions and statements.

         5. We will promote inclusion of all people who are PrEP users or PrEP seekers to other individuals and organisations and believe that their voice should be heard on matters that affect their bodies, their health and their lives.

5. Peer Approach

   1. We are for the community, by the community and to the benefit of the community

   2. We are accountable to our community

   3. We speak as equals to the community

   4. Our campaigns use the power of peers talking to peers

   5. We advocate our community be empowered

      1. to speak for themselves

      2. to control projects for themselves

      3. to meet their own needs where possible

      4. to have choice and  the right of self determination about their own bodies

      5. We exercise faith in our peers to be powerful, to do the right thing, to be effective and to be honourable.