Brasília, 2 December, 2021 - From 6 to 9 December, UNODC Brazil held a national update webinar on HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis. The event was promoted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the Fazendo Justiça Programme, the National Council of Justice (CNJ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The webinar was also supported by the National Penitentiary Department of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (DEPEN/MJSP).

The purpose of the event was to promote information on access and care in HIV, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis to the public served by prison services teams, including tips on disease prevention and guidance on human rights. Participants included professionals who work in the Attendance Service to Persons in Custody, in the Integrated Centers for Penal Alternatives, in the Electronic Monitoring Centers and in the Social Offices.

The webinar also presented strategies of intervention, surveillance, prevention, comprehensive care and diagnosis for these diseases, taking into account the context of the populations considered priority within this theme. Another crucial point within the schedule is to discuss with the professional teams self-care as a way to promote citizenship among the people assisted by the penal services. For this purpose, the webinar organized expository lectures for the first 500 professionals to register for the event.

As agreed at the High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, held in June during the United Nations General Assembly this year, the Member States of the organization must put together a global strategy to fulfill the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. This strategy, which considers the years between 2021 and 2026, emphasized the maximization of equitable and equal access to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care; breaking down barriers to achieve HIV outcomes (including promotion of Human Rights and gender equality); and integrating of the theme of HIV in health and social protection systems.

Infectious diseases in the incarcerated population - Tuberculosis, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the main pathologies identified among people in prison in Brazil, according to data from the National Penitentiary Department (DEPEN), which makes this population a special focus of attention during the month that marks World AIDS Day (1 December). Attentive to this challenge, the CNJ is contributing to the development of consolidated flows of prevention, diagnosis and assistance to these diseases in prisons units.

The initiative is developed in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Brazil and the Ministry of Health and is being implemented in the context of the Fazendo Justiça Program, a partnership between CNJ, UNDP and MJSP.

Pilot project - The pilot of the strategy has been under development since October, in Sergipe, with a set of actions for the public served by penal services in the state. The project envisages the creation of specific service flows of assistance and referrals to health services with the Service of Attendance to People in Custody (APEC), the Central Office for Penal Alternatives, the Electronic Monitoring Center and the Social Office. In addition, there will be a training cycle for professionals involved in the assistance of this population, discussing and disseminating information about prevention and service, especially focused on the vulnerability indicators.