Introduction:

The Vietnam Nation-Wide Institute on Gender, Sexuality and Sexual Health (VNIGSS for short) has been implementing since 2008 with the goal of helping junior and mid-career Vietnamese professionals who are working in the field of gender, sexuality and sexual health to have the critical thinking about the issues relating to pleasure and rights in sexual relationship and sexuality. From that, participants could improve their own life and enhance the quality of sexual and reproductive health, rights, gender equality and HIV/AIDS prevention programs which they participate. The 1^st VNIGSS (2008, organized in Hanoi) and the 2^nd VNIGSS (2009, in Ho Chi Minh city) were highly appreciated by participants. Following the success of these two courses, in 2010, the 3^rd VNIGSS will be organized.

Course Objectives: At the end of the workshop, the participants should be able to:

ü Explain the basic concepts of gender, sexuality and sexual rights

ü Recognize the roles and linkages between gender, sexuality, and rights in health, political and social issues

ü Have critical thinking on the topics of gender, sex and sexuality.

ü Apply new knowledge and approaches on sexuality and rights to their own life and work

ü Access the information to enhance the capacity in developing the programs, policies and researches in the field of sexuality and sexual health.

Time and venue:

The training course will be held in Hanoi from 21^st to 30^th of September, 2010.

Trainers:

Trainers of VNIGSS are experienced experts from the Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP), Institute of Social Development Studies (ISDS), and Hanoi Medical University (HMU)

Tentative program:

Topics included in the training are: basic concepts of sex, sexuality and sexual health; linkage between sexuality and health issues; pleasure from social construction perspective; impact of state and policies on sexuality, sexual rights and sexual health; and rights-based approach. Participants will also have opportunity to join various thematic discussions on prostitution, “standard” and “non-standard” sexualities, youth, HIV, sexuality education and sexual violence.

Eligible participants:

Vietnamese program officers, policy advocators, health workers, counsellors, researchers, journalists with working experiences in the fields of gender, sexuality, sexual health, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.

Lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender persons, people living with HIV, people with disability and other minority groups are encouraged to apply.

Fee and scholarship:

Fee: $700 covers for tuition, materials, tea break, lunch, and field trip.

The project offers a number of scholarships. Because scholarships are limited, applicants are encouraged to seek financial support from other resources.

Scholarship will cover traveling and accommodation for participants from outside Hanoi.

How to apply:

Please fill out the attached form and send it back to CCIHP by 5 pm, August 20^th, 2010.

More information and contact:

Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Nga

Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Address: No.2, Alley 49/41 Huynh Thuc Khang, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 35770261 - Fax: (84-4) 35770260
Email: vnigss@ccihp.org or nga@ccihp.org

Website: http://www.cihp.vn/