Reinvigorating parliamentary leadership in HIV

Muleya Mwananyanda is the Director for Influencing and Partnerships at UNAIDS. As a dedicated human rights advocate, she brings extensive experience in human rights advocacy and campaigning to her role. Muleya has been involved in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting health equity and protecting the rights of vulnerable populations. Prior to joining UNAIDS, she served as the Regional Director for Amnesty International in their East and Southern Africa office.

Erika Castellanos brings a wealth of experience in sex work issues and HIV activism to her role at the AIDS conference. Her journey began in the early 1990s as a volunteer at an HIV hospice in Southern Mexico, a time when treatment options were severely limited. As a caretaker, Erika provided comfort and dignity to those in their final days. Diagnosed with HIV in 1995, she intensified her advocacy efforts, demanding better treatment and fighting against the pervasive stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings.

In 2010, Erika founded Belize's first network of people living with HIV and co-founded the national transgender organization. Her activism extends across regional networks including REDCA+, REDLA+, CRN+, and REDLACTRANS. In 2015, she became the vice chair of GNP+ and served as the LAC delegate to the UNAIDS PCB. Erika's pioneering spirit was recognized in 2017 when she became the first openly transgender person elected to the Board of the Global Fund, representing the Communities Delegation.

As the Executive Director of GATE, Erika leads efforts on trans and gender-diverse issues. She oversees GATE's work in three key areas: Health, Human Rights, and Movement Building. Under her leadership, GATE collaborates closely with regional and national trans and gender diverse organizations to address social justice, inequalities, decriminalization, depathologization, and access to healthcare among other critical issues facing trans and gender diverse communities globally. Erika's responsibilities include overseeing all organizational activities and working with the Director of Finance and Operations to enhance fundraising efforts and resource allocation for trans and gender diverse communities worldwide.

Fluent in English and Spanish, and currently learning Dutch, Erika resides in the Netherlands with her husband, their two children, and two dogs. Her dedication to activism and her community continues to inspire and drive meaningful change in the global fight against HIV and for trans and gender diverse rights.

Erika Castellanos brings a wealth of experience in sex work issues and HIV activism to her role at the AIDS conference. Her journey began in the early 1990s as a volunteer at an HIV hospice in Southern Mexico, a time when treatment options were severely limited. As a caretaker, Erika provided comfort and dignity to those in their final days. Diagnosed with HIV in 1995, she intensified her advocacy efforts, demanding better treatment and fighting against the pervasive stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings.

In 2010, Erika founded Belize's first network of people living with HIV and co-founded the national transgender organization. Her activism extends across regional networks including REDCA+, REDLA+, CRN+, and REDLACTRANS. In 2015, she became the vice chair of GNP+ and served as the LAC delegate to the UNAIDS PCB. Erika's pioneering spirit was recognized in 2017 when she became the first openly transgender person elected to the Board of the Global Fund, representing the Communities Delegation.

As the Executive Director of GATE, Erika leads efforts on trans and gender-diverse issues. She oversees GATE's work in three key areas: Health, Human Rights, and Movement Building. Under her leadership, GATE collaborates closely with regional and national trans and gender diverse organizations to address social justice, inequalities, decriminalization, depathologization, and access to healthcare among other critical issues facing trans and gender diverse communities globally. Erika's responsibilities include overseeing all organizational activities and working with the Director of Finance and Operations to enhance fundraising efforts and resource allocation for trans and gender diverse communities worldwide.

Fluent in English and Spanish, and currently learning Dutch, Erika resides in the Netherlands with her husband, their two children, and two dogs. Her dedication to activism and her community continues to inspire and drive meaningful change in the global fight against HIV and for trans and gender diverse rights.

Muleya Mwananyanda is the Director for Influencing and Partnerships at UNAIDS. As a dedicated human rights advocate, she brings extensive experience in human rights advocacy and campaigning to her role. Muleya has been involved in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting health equity and protecting the rights of vulnerable populations. Prior to joining UNAIDS, she served as the Regional Director for Amnesty International in their East and Southern Africa office.

Erika Castellanos brings a wealth of experience in sex work issues and HIV activism to her role at the AIDS conference. Her journey began in the early 1990s as a volunteer at an HIV hospice in Southern Mexico, a time when treatment options were severely limited. As a caretaker, Erika provided comfort and dignity to those in their final days. Diagnosed with HIV in 1995, she intensified her advocacy efforts, demanding better treatment and fighting against the pervasive stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings.

In 2010, Erika founded Belize's first network of people living with HIV and co-founded the national transgender organization. Her activism extends across regional networks including REDCA+, REDLA+, CRN+, and REDLACTRANS. In 2015, she became the vice chair of GNP+ and served as the LAC delegate to the UNAIDS PCB. Erika's pioneering spirit was recognized in 2017 when she became the first openly transgender person elected to the Board of the Global Fund, representing the Communities Delegation.

As the Executive Director of GATE, Erika leads efforts on trans and gender-diverse issues. She oversees GATE's work in three key areas: Health, Human Rights, and Movement Building. Under her leadership, GATE collaborates closely with regional and national trans and gender diverse organizations to address social justice, inequalities, decriminalization, depathologization, and access to healthcare among other critical issues facing trans and gender diverse communities globally. Erika's responsibilities include overseeing all organizational activities and working with the Director of Finance and Operations to enhance fundraising efforts and resource allocation for trans and gender diverse communities worldwide.

Fluent in English and Spanish, and currently learning Dutch, Erika resides in the Netherlands with her husband, their two children, and two dogs. Her dedication to activism and her community continues to inspire and drive meaningful change in the global fight against HIV and for trans and gender diverse rights.

Muleya Mwananyanda is the Director for Influencing and Partnerships at UNAIDS. As a dedicated human rights advocate, she brings extensive experience in human rights advocacy and campaigning to her role. Muleya has been involved in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting health equity and protecting the rights of vulnerable populations. Prior to joining UNAIDS, she served as the Regional Director for Amnesty International in their East and Southern Africa office.

Dr Ruth M. Labode MD - Sofia University Bulgaria| MCOMMH - University of Liverpool| Former Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Childcare| Global She Decides Champion.

Deputy National of Argentina for the Socialist Party, from the Province of Santa Fe. Vice President of the "Women's, Gender and Diversity" commission from Deputys Chamber of the Nation.

He served as the Executive Director of the institute for LGBT Puclic Policies, where he impemented the HRC "Equidad AR" iniciative, globa labor equity index with involving over 80 companies and organizations in Argentina to pomote workplace free from stigma and discrimination.

He is an independent consultant for the Organization of the Unity Nations to promove transgender right and the HIV respons in the suthern cone of America.
He was integrant of the redactor team for the Equal Marriage Law (2010) and the Identity of Gender Law (2012). Former President of the "Argentine LGBT Federation" and currently Secretary of the Latin Gay Network.

As a polycimaker for the LGBT community, he was part of the political advocay proces to the New integral respons to HIV Law in Argentina (2022), as part of the team of Monica Fein, National Deputy of Argentina, President of "Health" commision of the Chamber of Deputys.

He is currently working on drafting a national Law that prohibits the sexual orientation and gender identity and expression change efforts (SOGIECE).

Erika Castellanos brings a wealth of experience in sex work issues and HIV activism to her role at the AIDS conference. Her journey began in the early 1990s as a volunteer at an HIV hospice in Southern Mexico, a time when treatment options were severely limited. As a caretaker, Erika provided comfort and dignity to those in their final days. Diagnosed with HIV in 1995, she intensified her advocacy efforts, demanding better treatment and fighting against the pervasive stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings.

In 2010, Erika founded Belize's first network of people living with HIV and co-founded the national transgender organization. Her activism extends across regional networks including REDCA+, REDLA+, CRN+, and REDLACTRANS. In 2015, she became the vice chair of GNP+ and served as the LAC delegate to the UNAIDS PCB. Erika's pioneering spirit was recognized in 2017 when she became the first openly transgender person elected to the Board of the Global Fund, representing the Communities Delegation.

As the Executive Director of GATE, Erika leads efforts on trans and gender-diverse issues. She oversees GATE's work in three key areas: Health, Human Rights, and Movement Building. Under her leadership, GATE collaborates closely with regional and national trans and gender diverse organizations to address social justice, inequalities, decriminalization, depathologization, and access to healthcare among other critical issues facing trans and gender diverse communities globally. Erika's responsibilities include overseeing all organizational activities and working with the Director of Finance and Operations to enhance fundraising efforts and resource allocation for trans and gender diverse communities worldwide.

Fluent in English and Spanish, and currently learning Dutch, Erika resides in the Netherlands with her husband, their two children, and two dogs. Her dedication to activism and her community continues to inspire and drive meaningful change in the global fight against HIV and for trans and gender diverse rights.

Muleya Mwananyanda is the Director for Influencing and Partnerships at UNAIDS. As a dedicated human rights advocate, she brings extensive experience in human rights advocacy and campaigning to her role. Muleya has been involved in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting health equity and protecting the rights of vulnerable populations. Prior to joining UNAIDS, she served as the Regional Director for Amnesty International in their East and Southern Africa office.

Dr Ruth M. Labode MD - Sofia University Bulgaria| MCOMMH - University of Liverpool| Former Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Childcare| Global She Decides Champion.

Deputy National of Argentina for the Socialist Party, from the Province of Santa Fe. Vice President of the "Women's, Gender and Diversity" commission from Deputys Chamber of the Nation.

He served as the Executive Director of the institute for LGBT Puclic Policies, where he impemented the HRC "Equidad AR" iniciative, globa labor equity index with involving over 80 companies and organizations in Argentina to pomote workplace free from stigma and discrimination.

He is an independent consultant for the Organization of the Unity Nations to promove transgender right and the HIV respons in the suthern cone of America.
He was integrant of the redactor team for the Equal Marriage Law (2010) and the Identity of Gender Law (2012). Former President of the "Argentine LGBT Federation" and currently Secretary of the Latin Gay Network.

As a polycimaker for the LGBT community, he was part of the political advocay proces to the New integral respons to HIV Law in Argentina (2022), as part of the team of Monica Fein, National Deputy of Argentina, President of "Health" commision of the Chamber of Deputys.

He is currently working on drafting a national Law that prohibits the sexual orientation and gender identity and expression change efforts (SOGIECE).