Q&A with Lars Christian ?stergreen, CEO of the AIDS-Fondet (the Danish AIDS Foundation)

In this interview, Lars Christian ?stergreen shares insights into his role with AIDS-Fondet, and the advocacy efforts to protect LGBTQ+ rights and health globally, and the importance of programs like UNAIDS in promoting inclusive health policies.??

This interview has been edited for clarity?

Why is addressing issues of discrimination and stigma, and ensuring health for all so important???

Addressing issues of discrimination and stigma, and ensuring health for all, is deeply important to me for personal and societal reasons. Living with HIV has given me firsthand experience with the stigma and barriers associated with chronic illnesses. This has highlighted the importance of empathy, support, and access to quality healthcare.??

Discrimination and stigma create significant health disparities, affecting marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, by limiting their access to care and perpetuating cycles of poverty and illness. I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy, fulfilling life.??

The impactful work of UNAIDS in reducing stigma and improving access to HIV prevention, treatment and care has been crucial in this regard. My journey with HIV and being an LGBTQ+ person have fueled my passion for advocating for health equity and contributing to a more inclusive healthcare system.?

What are some of the ways in which you are working to protect the human rights of LGBTQ+ people around the world???

AIDS-Fondet works with partners in Eastern and Southern Africa to promote and protect human rights of LGBTQ+ people in their countries – particularly gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and transgender people who are at increased risk of HIV. We support our partners to provide legal aid, inform people about their health and rights and link them to queer-friendly health services, including mental health.??

We engage duty bearers to inform them about the rights of LGBTQ+ people, influence laws and policies, and address stigma and discrimination, and we work to prevent and address violence. In addition, some of our partners engage in strategic litigation to change harmful laws.??

Our partners work with other partners in their countries as well – including UNAIDS and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate and amplify efforts.??

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What are you finding is most key for ensuring that the voices of LBGTQ+ communities are heard at the governmental level??

Governments should listen to the needs and priorities of LGBTQ+ communities, who face specific challenges, no matter what country we are talking about. LGBTQ+ communities are experts on how to reach their peers with social and health services. We need to be given a seat at the table – to participate in discussions and decisions around our health and well-being. To influence policies and programming. And we LGBTQ+ communities should be able to do this without fearing retaliation or persecution as a consequence of participation – we need to protect the rights and privacy of all LGBTQ+ persons.??

But we also need funding. LGBTQ+ communities and their organizations are unfortunately very underfunded, particularly in countries where they face the most discrimination and persecution – if the work of LGBTQ+ groups and organizations is not adequately funded, we will struggle even more to make our voices heard.??

Why do you believe that investing in programmes like UNAIDS is key to protecting everyone's human rights and everyone's health??

UNAIDS is the only UN entity that brings together so many different partners and stakeholders to promote and protect the health and human rights of LGBTQ+ people and works for holding governments accountable to their responsibility to protect the human rights of all people. Through its central role in the global AIDS response, UNAIDS has a unique position and voice to affect change where discrimination and stigma are holding us back in realizing rights for all.??

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Lars Christian ?stergreen has a degree in Danish and Marketing Economics as well as Management degrees from MacMannBerg and Implement Consulting Group. The last 15 years he has worked as Head of Office in the Copenhagen Municipality and as CEO and board member in different NGOs such as the Danish Cystic Fibrosis Association, Copenhagen Pride and the Civil Society Sector Association. He has been CEO of AIDS-Fondet (the Danish AIDS Foundation) since May 2021.?