Member Associations

Society for Health Education (SHE) is an organization that is proactive in identifying and addressing the crucial health and social concerns of the Maldives. SHE was founded in 1988 by four women with the mission to enhance the quality of life of Maldivian families. The organization embraces the following mandate: Strive to improve the quality of life of the Maldivian people Harness the expertise of national professionals, on a voluntary basis for development programmes Endeavour to raise awareness of health and social issues Today, SHE is one of the largest, most vibrant NGOs in the Maldives which addresses issues concerning Thalassemia, Counselling and Psychosocial Support, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Health Education. The organization reaffirms its commitment to sustain these initiatives, and to further increasing public awareness on issues that influence family well-being. Effectiveness of health promotion initiatives are ensured by adopting applicable service delivery mechanisms, fostering improvements in reproductive health parameters, continuing Thalassemia prevention activities, promoting responsible parenthood concepts, facilitating empowerment of women and youth, supporting victims of abuse by providing gender based violence screening services, essential SRH services and psychosocial support and referral services, as well as extending Counselling to adolescents and families, and encouraging community ownership of development. SHE operates an in-house clinic offering a range of services under one roof in the Maldives capital, Male’. The in-house clinic provides three main services; SRH services, counselling and psychosocial services, and thalassemia and diagnostic services. The SRH clinic of SHE has a long-standing reputation for client friendly and quality service provision on SRH and various other general health issues. The clinic conducts mobile outreach activities including awareness programmes targets for Key Affected Populations. Under the HIV and AIDS programme of the clinic, free Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services are offered to the general public. The Thalassemia prevention programme undertaken by SHE comprises an awareness component along with provision of screening services.The prevention programme aims to reduce the number of thalassemics born in the Maldives by providing testing services to identify thalassemia carrier status and raising awareness of how the disorder is inherited. The first, and only thalassemia DNA testing facility in the Maldives was established at SHE in 2005 to minimize the number of inconclusive results. The Counselling and Psychosocial services comprises face to face counselling, telephone counselling, and play therapy for young children. In addition to day to day regular services, the clinic conducts several skill development programmes targeting young people, vulnerable populations, teachers and parents. Furthermore, the organization adopts an integrated approach to health education and service delivery and its role includes increasing the accessibility of services and using media for education and communication. This includes collaborating with other Civil Society Organizations and State Institutions that work towards relating to issues on health and well-being. The society runs outreach programmes and mobilizes voluntary support to develop projects and to maintain and enhance service provision. With this number of services, SHE reaches over 5000 people of the population of the Maldives yearly. The success of the organization depends on the unreserved commitment of the organization’s members, volunteers, and staff. SHE strives to raise the bar higher at every opportunity, to ensure that the organization could progressively add greater value to clients and stakeholders, thereby uplifting the community’s general wellbeing.  

The Union of Women Sex Workers of Paraguay (Unión de Trabajadoras Sexuales del Paraguay -UNES) is a grassroots organization founded in 2006 in Asunción by and for adult women who engage in sex work autonomously. As a member of Redtrasex, UNES advocates for the recognition of sex workers' rights, the elimination of stigma, and their social inclusion. Its main goal is to collaborate with the Paraguayan state to strengthen and expand guarantees for comprehensive healthcare access with a human rights approach. Through various projects, UNES raises awareness among healthcare professionals, distributes prevention packages (including condoms, lubricants, counseling, and rapid tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B), and conducts community oversight visits to healthcare services. Additionally, it provides support to sex workers in accessing treatment and medical consultations. The organization promotes the political training of its leaders, builds alliances with feminist and human rights networks, and engages in public policy advocacy. UNES also works on developing legal frameworks that protect sex workers' rights, including legislative proposals such as the Sex Work Bill Proposal. Moreover, it carries out awareness-raising initiatives targeting key actors in the judicial, municipal, and governmental sectors. By strengthening partnerships with national and international organizations, UNES continues to advocate for the recognition and respect of sex workers' rights in Paraguay and across the region.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unes_py/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNESPY