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Ontario AIDS Network GIPA/MEPA SURVEY 2021

We acknowledge the sacred territories and many First Nations of Ontario on whose land we currently live, work and play.  We undertake this survey in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation and collaboration with our Indigenous hosts.

Thank you for agreeing to complete this survey on the renewal of our commitment to the principles and practice of GIPA/MEPA. GIPA/MEPA, the Greater Involvement and Meaningful Engagement of People living with HIV has a history that dates back to the early 1980s at the start of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. People with HIV were tired of seeing themselves portrayed as passive “victims” of this disease and insisted on their rights to be included in all decision making processes which affected their lives. The practices and principles of PHA engagement are at the heart of our successes in gaining access to effective  treatment, slowing the rate of new HIV transmissions and building responsive AIDS service organizations .

We are seeking your thoughts and opinions on the future involvement of people with HIV in Ontario’s HIV/AIDS movement, how you view your place in it, and specifically on the current principles and practice of GIPA/MEPA in Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) member organizations. 

The OAN is a network of community-based organizations formed as a grass-roots response to the need for HIV/AIDS services and information over 20 years ago. The consultants supporting this process of renewal are all living with HIV and working under the guidance of the OAN Advisory Committee of people living with HIV.

We appreciate your contribution and estimate it will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete the survey.

At the end of the survey, you will have an opportunity to enter a draw as a thank you for your time.

If you have any questions please contact tjewal@oan.red
1.Are you currently or have you ever been: (Check all that apply)
2.With which gender do you identify?
3.With which sexual orientation do you identify?
4.How old are you?
5.For how long have you been living with HIV?
6.Do you identify with any of the following groups? (Please check all that are appropriate)
7.Do you belong to any of the following ethno-racial identities? (Choose at least one box. You can choose more than one if appropriate)


8.Which one of these statements best describes your current employment status? (Choose at least one box. You can choose more than one if appropriate)
9.What type of city/community do you currently live in?
10.In which OAN region do you live?
Section II: GIPA/MEPA now
11.How familiar are you with the principles of GIPA/MEPA? 


12.What do you see as the main principles of GIPA/MEPA?
13.Do you believe that people living with HIV benefit from being involved in the work of HIV/AIDS organizations?
14.What do you see as the main benefits for people living with HIV?
15.Do you believe that HIV/AIDS organizations benefit from the involvement of people living with HIV?


16.What do you see as the main benefits for HIV/AIDS organizations?
17.Do you believe there are drawbacks/disadvantages for people living with HIV in participating in HIV/AIDS organizations?
18.Please briefly describe what some of these disadvantages might be.
19.Do you believe there are drawbacks/ (or disadvantages) for HIV/AIDS organizations to involve people living with HIV?
20.Please briefly describe what some of these disadvantages might be.
21.In your experience, is it easy for people living with HIV to get involved in HIV/AIDS organizations? 


22.What factors make it easier for people living with HIV to get involved in HIV/AIDS organizations?
23.What factors make it more difficult for people living with HIV to get involved in HIV/AIDS organizations?
24.Today in 2021, do you feel that people living with HIV want to get involved in HIV/AIDS organizations?
25.What things encourage people with HIV to get involved in HIV/AIDS organizations?
26.What things discourage people with HIV from getting involved in HIV/AIDS organizations?
27.Do you believe that HIV/AIDS organizations sometimes make people living with HIV feel unwelcome or uncomfortable?
28.Have you had an experience that made you feel welcome at an HIV/AIDS organization? If so, please describe.
29.Have you had an experience that made you feel unwelcome at an HIV/AIDS organization? If so, please describe.
30.Do you believe that racism makes people living with HIV less likely to be involved with HIV/AIDS organizations?
31.Have you had an experience with racism that made you feel less likely to be involved with an HIV/AIDS organization? If so, please describe.
32.Do you believe that sexism/genderphobia makes people living with HIV less likely to be involved with AIDS organizations?
33.Have you had an experience with sexism/genderphobia that made you feel less likely to be involved with an HIV/AIDS organization? If so, please describe.
34.Do you believe that HIV/AIDS organizations are sufficiently inclusive of diverse people living with and/or highly impacted by HIV (e.g., Black, Indigenous, trans, people who use drugs, people who engage in sex work, people who have been incarcerated etc.)?
35.If you think there is not enough representation of diverse people in HIV/AIDS organizations, what would you suggest to improve it?
36.Do HIV/AIDS organizations consult people living with HIV adequately?
37.In what ways are HIV/AIDS organizations consulting people living with HIV and how can it be improved?
Section 3: Revisiting the Ontario Accord

The Ontario Accord on GIPA/MEPA was written 10 years ago.  It outlines six action points regarding the engagement of people living with HIV in the organizations that serve them. Our goal in asking the following questions is to update the 2011 Ontario Accord, which will be affirmed by member organizations of the Ontario AIDS Network.

38.The first point of the Ontario Accord 2011 is to “Commit to the greater involvement and meaningful engagement of people living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA/MEPA); GIPA/MEPA puts PHAs at the centre and is grounded in human rights and the dignity of the full human being.” 
How meaningful is this statement for you today?
39.How would you modify it to make it more understandable and relevant?
40.The second point of the Ontario Accord 2011 is to “Aim to transform all who live with, work in, and are affected by HIV/AIDS in Ontario”. 
How meaningful is this statement for you today?
41.How would you modify it to make it more understandable and relevant?
42.The third point of the Ontario Accord 2011 is to “Commit to personal and social transformation”.
How meaningful is this statement for you today?
43.How would you modify it to make it more understandable and relevant?
44.The fourth point of the Ontario Accord 2011 is to “Value community expertise in embracing the challenge for the betterment of society”.

How meaningful is this statement for you today?
45.How would you modify it to make it more understandable and relevant?
46.The fifth point of the Ontario Accord 2011 is to “Value inclusion over exclusion, a quest for integrity at all times and the embodiment of self-determination”. 

How meaningful is this statement for you today?
47.How would you modify it to make it more understandable and relevant?
48.The sixth point of the Ontario Accord 2011 is to “Promote the evolution of thought, action and collaboration among us and with our allies”.

How meaningful is this statement for you today?
49.How would you modify it to make it more understandable and relevant?
Section 4: The Future of GIPA/MEPA

The following questions are focussed on how to move forward with the principles and practice of GIPA/MEPA for individuals, communities and the HIV/AIDS organizations that serve them.
50.How much work is left to do to ensure the future of GIPA/MEPA?
51.What kind of work is needed? Please elaborate.
52.How important a role do you think GIPA/MEPA will play in HIV/AIDS organizations in the next decade?
53.Please elaborate on your opinion.
54.Please feel free to provide any final comments you may have.
55. If you would like to be entered into that draw for regional prizes, please enter your email below.