Mapping Transgender Groups, Organisations and Networks in South Asia

Technical and funding support based on such evidence for large scale strategic interventions that address male-to-male and transgender sexualities and related HIV vulnerabilities is only now beginning to materialize in South Asia. One of the first steps needed in scaling up this response is to map the populations concerned and their representative groups, organizations and networks. This study was commissioned by APCOM and carried out by SAATHII, and aimed to map the situation of and HIV 'infrastructure' for transgenders in the South Asian countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The mapping study focused on transgenders, given that not enough is known about their specific vulnerabilities to HIV and the response that is already under way to address these vulnerabilities.