MOYO POSITION STATEMENT: Anti-Racism in the HIV Sector – Our Commitment to Anti-Racism

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Position:
Moyo Health and Community Services is committed to the active dismantling of racism in all its forms—structural, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized. We recognize that systemic racism negatively impacts the communities we serve, especially Black, Indigenous, and racialized populations, and contributes to deeply rooted health inequities in Canada, including within the HIV sector.
We affirm that racism is not just a matter of individual bias, but is embedded in our systems, institutions, policies, and societal norms. In Canada, systemic racism continues to shape access to healthcare, housing, employment, education, and justice—creating disproportionate harms for marginalized communities.

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Anti-Racism and Health Equity in the HIV Sector

We acknowledge that racialized communities, particularly African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) and Indigenous peoples, are overrepresented in the HIV epidemic in Ontario and across Canada. This is not coincidental—it is the result of historical and ongoing systems of oppression, including:

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• Anti-Black Racism, which is rooted in the legacy of enslavement and manifests today through criminalization, stigma, economic exclusion, and negative health outcomes.

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• Anti-Indigenous Racism, rooted in colonialism, which continues through intergenerational trauma, lack of access to culturally safe care, and criminal justice overreach.

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These systemic forces create profound barriers to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care, leading to poorer health outcomes and heightened stigma for people living with or at risk of HIV.

How Racism Impacts People Living with HIV

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• Barriers to Care: Racism limits access to timely, culturally competent HIV services.

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• Stigma and Discrimination: HIV-related stigma intersects with racialized stigma, compounding harm.

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• Economic Insecurity: Discrimination in housing, education, and employment increases vulnerability to HIV and reduces access to care.

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• Negative Media Portrayals: Disproportionate media focus on Black individuals in HIV-related legal cases fuels harmful stereotypes and stigma.

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• Criminalization: Indigenous and racialized people are disproportionately charged under HIV non-disclosure laws, discouraging testing and disclosure.

Concrete Commitments

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Moyo is dedicated to:

• Challenging systemic racism within our organization and across the HIV sector.

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• Working in consultation with racialized and Indigenous communities, clients, staff, and partners to co-create anti-racist programs and policies.

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• Embedding anti-racism and anti-oppression in our service delivery, hiring practices, governance, and advocacy efforts.

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• Investing in education and training to support cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and continuous learning among our staff, board, and volunteers.

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• Amplifying community voices by supporting leadership from affected communities and building partnerships with Black- and Indigenous-led organizations.

Working in Solidarity

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We stand in solidarity with and support the work of organizations leading anti-racism in the HIV response, including:

• African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO) – Providing leadership on HIV in African, Caribbean, and Black communities.

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• Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) – Delivering culturally relevant HIV support and advocacy for Black communities.

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• Women and HIV/AIDS Initiative (WHAI) – Working at the intersections of race, gender, and HIV.

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• Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) – Leading Indigenous research, education, and advocacy.

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• Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) – Promoting anti-oppression across Ontario’s HIV sector.

Moving Forward

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We believe that an anti-racist HIV response must be community-driven, culturally grounded, and rooted in justice. This means supporting Indigenous and Black leadership, investing in culturally safe services, decolonizing health systems, and holding ourselves accountable.

Moyo remains committed to ongoing dialogue, learning, and action. This is not a one-time declaration, but a living commitment to justice, equity, and the dignity of every person we serve.

Want to Learn More or Get Involved?

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Explore our programs and partnerships, join our education sessions, or connect with our equity team at:
📧 sharmins@moyohcs.ca
🌐 www.moyohcs.ca/programs

[1] Sinha, M.  Softening the blow of discrimination: The role of social connections in mitigating the harms associated with racism and discrimination .  Statistics Canada.  ( July 9, 2025)  https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2025001/article/00009-eng.htm. (Last accessed September 11, 2025).

[2] Rein, SM ∙ Lampe, FC ∙ Ingle, SM ∙ et al. All-cause hospitalisation among people living with HIV according to gender, mode of HIV acquisition, ethnicity, and geographical origin in Europe and North America: findings from the ART-CC cohort collaboration

Lancet Public Health. 2023; 8:e776-e787

[3] Hiller, SA, Winkler EJ, Laveallee,L. Decolonising the HIV Care Cascade: Policy and Funding Recommendations from Indigenous Peoples Living with HIV and AIDS.

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2020. ; 15(1): 48-60.   https:///doi/org/10.32799/ijih.v15i1.34001