Advocacy by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in India: Case Study of Project to Influence HIV/AIDS Policies in Corporations

Abstract

This case study examines an advocacy effort by the International Labor Organization in India. Over the past six years, and with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, ILO has sought to influence corporations and other workplaces to adopt and implement policies that address HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment for its staff and the larger community. To achieve its advocacy goals, ILO has worked with allies in some of India's largest corporations and industry associations, government, trade unions and NGOs. It has documented the best practices of the allied corporations, developed model policies, prepared educational materials, trained trainers, provided workshops and in other ways used a form of "collaborative advocacy" to expand the number of workplaces with progressive policies, including the protection of the rights of workers with HIV/AIDS.

The study seeks to answer: How effective has the campaign been? And, what general lessons can be learned about advocacy that might be applied in other contexts? The study draws on data from primary documents, phone interviews, electronic communications (instant messaging and email), field-based interviews by a colleague, and participant observation of Indian society and politics through previous work and research. It finds that ILO has made several efforts to adopt and implement the HIV/AIDS workplace policies by influencing the corporations. It also appears that the messaging has played a very important role, but that the campaign has not achieved the scale that would be necessary to effectively address the potential magnitude of HIV/AIDS in India. Among the lessons that can be learned are: 1) Building specific coalitions and networks, 2) Building collaborative advocacy rather than confrontational advocacy, 3) Importance of Monitoring and Evaluation, and 4) Contribution of Leadership in Social Change

Disciplines

Medicine and Health | Politics and Social Change

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