About SCNetwork

Mission
The South-Caucasus Network on HIV/AIDS is an innovative partnership that leads and inspires the South-Caucasian region in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for MSM/TG.
SCN fulfills its mission by:
• Promoting the human rights of MSM/TG living with HIV/AIDS in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and internationally, through research and analysis, advocacy and litigation, public education and community mobilization;
• Mobilizing political, technical, scientific and financial resources, as well as communities by building their capacities and empowerment;
• Developing the efforts of the national and regional system, civil society, national governments, the private sector, institutions and MSM/TG living with and most affected by HIV;
• Supporting inclusive country leadership for sustainable responses that are integral to and integrated with national health and development efforts.

Vision

External
We envision a world in which MSM/TG are healthy and the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by the disease are fully realized and in which health policies facilitate HIV prevention, care, treatment and support.

Internal
A visible and respected network at national, regional and international levels, with the experienced and professional staff and volunteers providing high-quality services and an international model for effective and efficient HIV prevention, advocacy, care and education.

Why a regional model?
We recognize our network and individual responsibility to provide leadership in every instance in our direct services, administration and individual positions because we acknowledge:
• The lack of priority of this cause locally and nationally and the lack of resources internationally to match the scale of the pandemic internationally
• The power of HIV and AIDS, if left unchecked, to destroy lives, relationships, cultures, countries and world stability
• The cumulative adverse impact this disease has on marginalized groups in this country and on developing countries internationally
• The overwhelming political reality and societal moral constraints that will not allow a disease transmitted through sexual activity and intravenous drug use to be tackled head-on by public health services.

Values
The work of the SCNetwork is rooted in a number of guiding values:

• The centrality of human rights in the response to HIV and AIDS;
• A focus on the rights of marginalized populations;
• Ensuring the meaningful participation of MSM/TG living with and affected by HIV and AIDS in our work and in defining and implementing policies and programs;
• A commitment to action and activism for healthcare and HIV/AIDS Prevention;
• Accountability to the communities we serve and to donors, including transparent reporting and effective use of resources;
• A commitment to global responsibility and engagement;
• A commitment to excellence in all areas of our work.

Background

The SCNetwork is establishes in October 2, 2011 by 3 organizations;

1.  We for Civil Equality NGO, Armenia
2.  Gender and Development NGO, Azerbaijan
3. Tanadgoma NGO, Georgia

The Armenia-based We for Civil Equality NGO (www.wfce.am) is the first LGBT organization in the South Caucasus. One of the organization’s strategic work areas is HIV/AIDS/STI prevention among MSM/TG.
The Azerbaijan-based Gender and Development NGO (www.lgbt.az) is currently the only organization working with MSM/TG communities in Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan and established in 2007,
The Georgia-based Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health – Tanadgoma NGO (www.tanadgoma.ge) is the first organization working with MSM/TG groups in Georgia. Starting from 2000, the organization has been working on HIV/AIDS prevention among high-risk groups.

The organizations have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Strategic Partnership which should promote coordination of programs in the field of HIV prevention among MSM/TG in the South Caucasus region.
The parties have agreed to cooperate in the following strategic areas and directions:
• Providing consultative assistance at all levels of the decision making process, elaboration and improvements of policies addressing socially important diseases;
• Promoting the capacity building of specialists and leaders of non-commercial organizations working in the field of public health system;
• Supporting improvements in the legislative and law enforcement practices and in the field of public health and healthcare system;
• Attracting resources and funds, as well as adapting to the international experience by supporting regional and international cooperation programs
The country coordinators of the SCNetwork are:
1. Armenia – Dr. Karen BADALYAN, president of We for Civil Equality NGO,
2. Azerbaijan – Kamran RZAYEV, president of Gender and Development NGO,
3. Georgia – Nino TSERETELI, executive director of Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health – Tanadgoma NGO.