Community Mobilization
KHPT’s strategic vision is to empower communities in Karnataka and India, working together to improve their health, reduce the incidence and burden of HIV and AIDS, and assert their rights and dignity. To achieve this vision, KHPT works with FSWs, MSMs and PLHIV to mobilize communities to form strong and effective CBOs that can challenge power structures, while creating an enabling environment. KHPT has identified three important needs related to forming strong CBOs that must be strengthened, both at individual and at group levels, to operationalize its overall empowerment strategy: enhancing the self-esteem and dignity of community members; facilitating the development of CBOs; and encouraging responsive governance of CBOs.

Three guiding principles that come together to build a platform for its philosophy for engaging with communities in Karnataka and the development of its overall community mobilization strategy.

To support the dignity of sex workers/ sexual minorities
KHPT recognizes sex workers right to life with dignity and will respond to the emerging demands of these communities for respect and dignity of life. This is guided by the realization that change in power relationships is necessary for realizing dignity: although some enter sex work by choice, most enter due to factors beyond their control, including death of or alienation by husbands, being dedicated as a Devadasi, or sexual trafficking.

To oppose violence and sexual abuse
KHPT will oppose any form of violence against communities and any system that exploits them. We condemn all forms of violence and sexual abuse as a serious violation of human rights. We will facilitate a response to violence and sexual abuse through capacity building to deal and cope with it, facilitating local mechanisms to support in risk management, and legal action.

Engagement with the State
KHPT believes that the State is the ‘rights holder’ as well as ‘rights provider’. The State has an obligation to ensure fulfillment of rights to all its citizens without any discrimination and is accountable to any rights violations. Making policy level changes that focus on communities vulnerabilities, such as lack of health care, social entitlements, stigma and discrimination is necessary for change. KHPT believes that the constitutional rights of the community members cannot be denied on the pretext of their profession. Therefore, it will act as an advocate to sensitize and educate policy makers about improving the overall human rights of community members by engaging in dialogue with the State.

Overall philosophy and strategy
The overall philosophy of KHPT is that FSWs, MSMs and PLHIV are marginalized and disadvantaged communities. To reduce their vulnerabilities and to achieve a reduction in HIV and AIDS the strategy adopted by KHPT is to encourage and facilitate community mobilization of these so that they can collectively challenge the power structures that cause their marginalization. It is a process where reflection on individual attitudes and beliefs, critical thinking and strengthened capacities will result in the formation of strong community-based organizations (CBOs) and networks.

KHPT is aware of the mainstream thinking that sees the need to form CBOs in the context of HIV prevention and as a strategy for behavior change. Although KHPT affirms that HIV prevention provides an opportunity to mobilize these high risk groups, it also considers that the formation of CBOs is not merely for HIV interventions. Rather it offers an opportunity to work with marginalized communities to help them work together to fight against discrimination, gain power, and claim their rights. KHPT will focus on an integrated response to HIV and AIDS taking into account both the overall societal dimensions and the prevention initiatives focused primarily on individual behavior change. KHPT recognizes that once these communities gain a public voice, they should be left to decide their own agenda, which may include a focus on HIV and AIDS.

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