Reducing stigma and discrimination in El Salvador

The Vida Digna (Life with Dignity) programme is one of the first in Central America to address the high levels of stigma, discrimination and even violence faced by key populations.

In Central America, stigma and discrimination are preventing key populations from accessing basic services like health care, education and housing. Rights violations and underrepresentation in decision-making processes, particularly of sex workers and transgender women, are also seriously undermining their ability to be part of the HIV response.
But thanks to the Vida Digna programme, these groups are now gaining visibility and a voice at the national level. The programme has been engaging with service providers, working to reduce stigma and discrimination with more than 8,000 people. Vida Digna has been strengthening key population organisations, helping to make the HIV response more sustainable.

The programme was designed by Colectivo Sol, the Alliance Linking Organisation in Mexico, and by ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action programme. It ran in Mexico from 2005 to 2010, and has now been successfully adapted to El Salvador. The project is being implemented by Alliance Linking Organisation Atlacatl, a Salvadoran organisation run for and by people living with HIV, and four partner organisations.