The XVII International AIDS Conference

(Mexico City)
Community Tequio Dialogue Space

Presented by
Yee M. Htun & Win Myint Than
 Social Action for Women (SAW) was
founded in June 25, 2000 to assist
displaced refugee and illegal migrant
women from Burma who are in crisis
situations after having fled to Mae
Sod, Thailand. SAW is based in Mae
Sod and was established to support
women facing difficulties by
providing:

 Shelter

 Health education

 Human rights/women’s rights

awareness

 Counselling

 Vocational and empowerment

trainings
 SAW has in its 8 years of operation, expanded its focus population to
also include caring for and educating AIDS orphans and abandoned
children and migrant workers’ children. The organization has 42 full-
time staff members and 28 part-time members.
SAW’s Vision
 By supporting vulnerable/marginalized women and children, SAW hopes
that it will strengthen their ability to face future challenges, minimize
their risk of becoming victims of abuse, exploitation and human
trafficking thereby helping them develop into healthy and productive
members of society.

SAW’s Objectives
 To assist women and children from Burma affected by displacement along
the Thai-Burma border by providing social support services in areas of
health, education and safe housing.

 To provide counselling and training for marginalized women and children.

 To promote reproductive and sexual health education among displaced

population.

 To meet its goals, SAW closely collaborates with Mae Tao Clinic, Mae Sod
General Hospital, UNHCR (Mae Sod), Médecins Sans Frontières, World
Vision, RH Network (Mae Sod), Committee for Protection and Promotion of
Child Rights, Burmese Worker Associations and other women
organizations in Mae Sod.
Double Marginalization: What is it?
 Lack of legal status
 Leading to greater risks of arrest vulnerable to abuse and exploitation
 Lack of workers’ rights and poor working conditions leading to health
problems
 Lack of rights and protection under the legal system
 Lack of reproductive health education and access to healthcare due to
transient lifestyle
 Sexism
 Vulnerable to sexual assault and physical violence in both the country of
origin and host country
 Unable to guard against the above practices and at time must even provide
sexual favors to employers, authorities and male co-workers for their
security
 Paid less than male counterparts (30-50%)
 Threats of dismissal once pregnant often cause women to procure unsafe
abortions
 Most pregnancies are unwanted due to lack of status, uncertainty and need
SAW works in providing:

 shelters,
 schools,
 health education,
 income-generation,
 peer support dialogue
 program against gender based-violence.

Most of the work that SAW does with regards to HIV/AIDS is in the
area of shelter and health education.
Health Care House (for Women Living with HIV/AIDS)

Objectives
 To develop sustainable physical and mental health programs for
HIV-positive women
 Provide security to ensure that services can be accessed
 To train them to be peer educators for community HIV/AIDS
education
 To help women cope and empower them
 To prolong and improve the quality of their lives

Activities
 Providing trauma counselling
 Links with health services for ARV treatments
and regular medical check up
 Providing shelter and basic needs for the
women
 Providing health care and health education
 Providing vocational trainings such as sewing,
weaving and knitting as a way of upgrading their
Health Care House (for Women Living with HIV/AIDS)
 The Health Care House (HCH) provides a home for women affected
by HIV/AIDS who have no shelter or anyone to care for them.
As many of these women have been stigmatized by their
communities, they are often unable to provide for themselves. As a
result of their perceived lack of worth in society, many women also
become depressed thereby further weakening their vulnerable
physical conditions.
Safe House for abandoned and orphaned children

Due to the economic crisis in Burma, most people left their home and
became migrant workers in Thailand. They do not have access to
basic health care and social services. Lack of knowledge about
reproductive health have led to high rates of unwanted pregnancies
and pregnancy terminations in young girls and women.

In addition, there is high infant mortality rate and child abandonment

are becoming more common. Reasons for abandonment include
physical, mental or financial incapability on the part of the parents.
Lack of social support and legal status in host countries are also
contributory factors.

SAW Safe House for abandoned children and AIDS orphans is vital to
protecting them from human trafficking and exploitation.
Mobile Medical Team
There are over 100,000 displaced persons from Burma living in Tak
Province. Lack of recognition by the Thai government causes most
migrants to have to live in unstable situations. Marginalization of
displaced persons has also led to widespread exploitation and sexual
abuse.

These people are especially vulnerable to health concerns due to

poverty, poor sanitation, and no access to health care. Furthermore,
cultural norms prohibiting reproductive health education and family
planning have led to high numbers of unwanted pregnancies and
sexually transmitted diseases.

A large percentage of abortions and new HIV infections happen in the

young migrant community. Many local health facilities report
increasing numbers of young people seeking treatment for STDs and
the consequences of unsafe abortion.

In 2000, SAW began operating a Mobile Medical Team which treated

minor illnesses, malnutrition and provided health education to combat
the emerging AIDS problem. In two years of operating the Mobile
Health Team, SAW mobile medics treated more than 5,000 patients.
Unfortunately, SAW was forced to stop it's Mobile Medical Team in
Reproductive Health Education

Objectives

 To increase knowledge about reproductive and sexual health in

displaced communities
 To reduce HIV transmission among displaced Burmese communities
 To provide both physical and mental support to women and children
 
Activities
 
 Providing and facilitating health education trainings in displaced
communities
 Producing and distributing educational materials (manual
handbook, pamphlets, posters, condoms)
 Providing health education to women and children living with
HIV/AIDS at SAW's Health Care House
Success
 Greater awareness regarding HIV/AIDS
 Fostering positive outlook and support for people living with HIV/AIDS
 Growth in SAW’s HIV/AIDS program and becoming a referral centre for
partner organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, Mae Tao
Clinic, World Vision, UNHCR and Mae Sod General Hospital.

Challenges
 SAW members’ lack of legal status in host countries severely limits its
ability to run the Safe Houses
 Security concerns
From all of us, thank you!!!