Gestos Soropositividade Comunicação e Gênero
Information on the purpose of your organization
Gestos was founded in 1993 in Recife, Brazil and guides its actions by feminist principles. Its foundation was motivated by the realization that AIDS calls for multidisciplinary measures and can no longer be addressed solely through the epidemiological dimension. The expansion of the HIV epidemic aggravated a series of other emergent social problems that are recurring in countries like Brazil. Gestos produces and utilizes knowledge in various fields, acting in the areas of Education, Communications and Public Policy from the perspective of sexual citizenship, gender equity and social justice.
Our mission is to build democratic, equitable and peaceful cultures to overcome AIDS. In this sense, Gestos operates in spaces of social control, making the insistent work to promote access to information and to advocate for justice and transparency in the processes to reduce the growth of HIV infections, and to support those who are infected or affected by HIV.
Our interdisciplinary team is comprised of sociologists, journalists, social workers, psychologists, lawyers, teachers, anthropologists, educators, and professionals in international relations. In addition to programs developed in conjunction with low-income populations, our sphere of influence effectively reaches the spaces dedicated to monitoring public policy at local (Recife), national (especially the Northeast of Brazil), regional (Latin America), and international levels.
Information on your programmes and activities in areas relevant to the subject of the Summit and in which country or counties they are carried out.
Gestos´s work contributed to significant gains in various political spheres. Two decades of intense and persistent institutional work provided the maturation of methods and practices that strengthened the perception of the institution before diverse audiences and partners, bringing Gestos local, state, national, regional and international recognition
Since its founding in 1993, Gestos has highlighted the fundamental importance of developing actions to promote public policies. In this sense, the participation and representation of civil society should also focus on strengthening spaces of social control.
Our organization has consolidated its active participation in the field of human rights, being a crucial actor in the Brazilian AIDS Movement and in harmony with several other local, national and international networks, articulations and movements. Gestos works on the strengthening the mobilization, monitoring and evaluation of public policies as enablers of repressed social demands.
Since 2003, Gestos has been mobilizing national civil society groups, networks and movements in Brazil to monitor the targets agreed in Declaration of Commitment issued during the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) dedicated to HIV/AIDS. In 2007, replicated the process and methodology in sixteen countries, and in twelve countries in a second phase, which led to the consolidation of an international advocacy plan (in addition to national plans) and the establishment of an international network of southern activists. Also, since 2006, Gestos has monitored and advocated for advances in the fields of HIV, gender, SRHR and SRH in the annual sessions of the CSW and CPD, always as a member of the official Brazilian delegation to these events.
Gestos was also actively involved in the PoA review process of the Cairo Conference, being a member of the High Level Task Force set up for this purpose, and in the national, regional and international processes of discussion, articulation and negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals and other items of the Post-2015 Agenda, such as funding.
Our Executive Director, Alessandra Nilo, was part of Brazil's official delegation for the final discussion of the SDGs in July.
Information on activities at the national or international levels
Since 2003, Gestos has been mobilizing national civil society groups, networks and movements in Brazil to monitor the targets agreed in Declaration of Commitment issued during the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) dedicated to HIV/AIDS. In 2007, replicated the process and methodology in sixteen countries, and in twelve countries in a second phase, which led to the consolidation of an international advocacy plan (in addition to national plans) and the establishment of an international network of southern activists. Also, since 2006, Gestos has monitored and advocated for advances in the fields of HIV, gender, SRHR and SRH in the annual sessions of the CSW and CPD, always as a member of the official Brazilian delegation to these events.
Gestos was also actively involved in the PoA review process of the Cairo Conference, being a member of the High Level Task Force set up for this purpose, and in the national, regional and international processes of discussion, articulation and negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals and other items of the Post-2015 Agenda, such as funding.
Since 2006, Gestos has been taking part of UN conferences and other international events. We were present during UNGASS-AIDS meetings and have been part of the Brazilian official delegation to the annual CSW and CPD sessions ever since. Gestos has been actively involved in the the PoA review process of the Cairo Conference ? including the CELAC Regional Conferences for Latin America. Furthermore, Gestos is a member of the High Level Task Force set up for the Operational Review of Cairo, and is taking part in the national, regional and international processes of discussion, articulation and negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals and other items of the Post-2015 Agenda, such as funding.
Gestos works to promote the recognition and effective respect of sexual and reproductive health and right, in special of women and girls and those living with and affected by HIV, the importance of a human rights centered approach to the new development agenda and the role of civil society in its the achievement. Our organization has promoted and took part in many events ? including during UN-related events, High Level Meetings, and sessions of the CSW and CPD, such as seminars and strategic sessions to discuss how to better advocate progress in these issues, as well as led several advocacy efforts in this sense. One recent example of the recognition of the leadership of Gestos in this area was the invitation by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ba Ki-moon, to have the Executive Coordinator of our organization as a keynote speaker on the role of partnerships in the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda at the opening of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council Joint Thematic Debate / Forum on Partnerships (http://webtv.un.org/watch/alessandra-cabral-dos-santos-nilo-gestos-on-the-role-of-partnerships-in-the-implementation-of-the-post-2015-development-agenda/3449629729001/)
Organization have an annual report? (YES/NO) (should contain financial statements and a list of financial sources and contributions, including governmental contributions)?
Yes -
AnnualReport2013-2014andIndependentAuditing2013.pdf
List of members of the governing body of your organization, and their countries of nationality
Gestos has a Collegiate Coordinating Body, composed by three coordinators. They are elected every two years, by direct secret ballot, by all staff/team members. Any person of the staff can run for any of the three positions. Re-election is permitted.
Our current Collegiate Coordinating Body was elected in December, 2014. They are:
1) Alessandra Cabral dos Santos Nilo, Executive Coordinator ? Brazilian;
2) Ivete de Albuquerque Xavier, Organizational Development Coordinator ? Brazilian
3) Josineide de Meneses Silva, Programmes Coordinator - Brazilian
Copy of the constitution and/or by-laws of the organization (WORD or PDF only), or a weblink to it
3-RevisedCurrentStatute.pdf
