See to understand promotes the use of red glasses to make visible the commitment to counter stigma and discrimination related to HIV.
In Guatemala, wearing a pair of red glasses has transcended from being a fashion statement to a symbol against stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV. UNAIDS, in partnership with the National Red Cross, launched “See to understand”, a campaign that challenges people to look at the world through red glasses for …

By Duvindi Illankoon
The power of theatre is never to be underestimated. Eve Ensler’s play The Vagina Monologues, inspired the V-Day movement; a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. Theatre can often reach across linguistic and cultural boundaries, and it is this medium that the Grassrooted Trust will once again use this April to get their message through.
‘ V-Day 2012: Writings to end violence against women in Sri Lanka’ will go on …

As the big match season promises to be more intensifying, the Class of 94’ of Royal and S. Thomas’ – the two schools involved in the history rich ‘Battle of the Blues’ cricket encounter – has come out with an innovation via cricket.
The old boys from these two educational institutes have got together to conduct the inaugural ‘Condom Cricket Sixes’, a cricket tournament with a difference and a cause, which will be played at the …

Handing down capital punishment for an offence that does not take life is draconian and violates all international human rights standards.
When Paramjit Singh was sentenced to death for drug trafficking last month, he joined two other accused narcotics offenders on India’s death row (despite reports that it was “a first” and “a landmark judgment”).
The jubilatory tone in some media was disappointing and, in some respects, it was surprising that the case didn’t generate more controversy. …

The Government has decided to introduce legislation, legalising abortion for underage girls who conceive after rape.
Speaking to Newsfirst, Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs, Tissa Karaliadda stated that in addition, new laws will also be formulated to legalise abortion in situations where the woman conceives as a result of incest.
Minister Karaliadda went onto say that the draft legislation in this regard is being compiled in consultation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry …

When we began consulting in 2009, we had little idea of what Grassrooted would evolve into – we knew that HIV would remain our focus always, but that we had to include a broader Sexual and Reproductive Health approach, including Rights, if  we were to have any impact in Sri Lanka, with its low HIV prevalence and near invisible community.
Our consulting business model was simple: work for those who can afford to pay us, and …

Nota Bene – This is a sad article that once more underscores how primitive notions of morality continue to impact our world. What you read below could be Sri Lanka, except that we don’t really like admitting to the existence of sex work. May the gods in your head bless you.
Gaylord Grasshopper
Confiscating Condoms? The Dumbfounding Ways Police Deal With Prostitution
Each year, scores of new laws are proposed to make prostitution somehow even more illegal than …

A giant condom will be ‘wrapped’ around the Dutch Munt Tower in Amsterdam this week. It’s probably one of the more striking activities that will mark World AIDS Day. Meetings, film-viewings, theatre plays, articles, brochures and many other happenings will call upon people to join the fight against AIDS. To effectively fight AIDS though, we need to also fight tuberculosis. ‘Getting to zero’ is this year’s theme for World AIDS Day.
Getting to zero, backed by …