Paul Gorshel (Chair)
Paul Gorshel was a volunteer for Massachusetts Aids Action Committee prior to becoming seropositive. From 1992-until he left for the UN in 1999, he was a volunteer speaker for the AAC where he would outreach to diverse audiences about having the virus, his daily experiences, prevention and to show that people with HIV come from all sectors of society. Outreach included, high schools, Harvard Medical School, insurance companies and community fora. 3 months after his diagnosis, Paul attended law school despite the progression from infection to illness. He then worked as a litigator in Massachusetts obtaining paternity and child support judgments for residents of Massachusetts while finishing his Masters of Business Administration. In 1999, Paul rejoined the United Nations and served as a lawyer in Mozambique, Kosovo, Geneva, New York, Eritrea, Ethiopia and since 2007, in Iraq. Paul believes that it is time for the UN to implement changes to recruit and retain talented staff with HIV within the UN Organization. He wishes to show others affected, if not infected, by HIV that one can still succeed despite the challenges surrounding HIV, including stigma. Paul believes that it is time for members of the UN family to look inward and see how the UN can set an example as an avant-garde organisation who looks after its staff, whether they have HIV, or other challenges. By looking inward, we can better understand and alleviate the suffering of the world around us.
Evelyn Jonazi (Vice-Chair)
Evelyn Jonazi is a Malawian with 3 children. Currently, she is working as a Finance & Administrative Assistant with UNAIDS Malawi since March 2012. Her previous work experience includes Administrative work with UNFPA for 8 months; UNDP/UNV for 8 years and Assistant Lecturer in Accounting & Finance at University of Botswana for 8 months. She is an active member of UN Cares team as well as UN Plus Malawi; she is also a trained counsellor by the UN and a Peer Educator.
Eve is a holder of a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree specialised in Banking & Finance obtained from University of Namibia.
John Bryant Collier
John Bryant Collier, a U.S. national, is an Operations Officer in the Africa Water Resources Management Unit at the World Bank. JB joined the Bank in 1994 and has worked in the Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, and Africa Regions, focusing on regional initiatives, water resources development, environment, and safeguards. He is currently serving as First Vice Chair of the World Bank Staff Associations and active in the Bank’s HIV in the Workplace program and the Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Employees (GLOBE) staff club. JB has been a member of UN Plus since 2007.
Jacqueline Rocha Côrtes
Jacqueline Rocha Côrtes is a HIV/AIDS and Human Rights activist and consultant. She started her work in the Aids community in 1995. She is one of the founders of the Brazilian Network of PLWA (RNP+/Brasil). Member of the “Positive Women Citizens” – MNCP, the Brazilian Movement of Women Living with HIV/AIDS. Project and Program Coordinator for the HIV+ community and for primary health care services working with health professionals in Brazil. Technical Cooperation project coordinator within the LAC region. Former delegate of NGO UNAIDS PCB for LAC region; former board member of the World Aids Campaign Global Steering Committee; former representative in the GNP+ Board representing the Latin American and the Caribbean Network of PLWA (REDLA+). Brazilian Government representative at the 58th Session on UN Human Rights Commission advocating for universal access. Former Trustee at International HIV/AIDS Alliance . Former Consultant for the National Aids Program – MoH in Brazil from 2005/2008 as a senior advisor for international cooperation. Currently working for UNAIDS in Brazil since 2008 as a Program Associate. Jacqueline is a teacher, married, mother of two children and was born on February 1st, 1960, in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mrs. Jacqueline Côrtes has openly lived with HIV since 1994.
Masood Fareed
Masood has been working very closely with UN Plus since 2007. He is a young professional working as Social Mobilization Office at the “Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS [UNAIDS]” in Pakistan.
Masood is also part of the UN Cares program in Pakistan that coordinates the HIV and AIDS program at the UN workplace. In his previous role, he has served as Vice-chair of UN Plus’ “Global Advisory Group” and represented UN Plus at many regional and international platforms.
Masood has been a tireless advocate in achieving treatment for all those living with HIV in UN system. He strongly believes in the greater involvement of HIV positive staff members at all decision making levels. He has the capacity to handle cross-cultural sensitivity concerning HIV and AIDS and aims to make use of his experience abilities’ productivity to provide support to staff members especially the under privileged. Masood has a Master’s degree in Business Administration among other qualifications.
Yvonne Kasine
Yvonne Kasine is a Rwandan. She works as Supply Assistant with UNICEF Rwanda since 2008. She is UN Plus Volunteer since January 2012 and UN Cares Focal point for UNICEF. She is a UNICEF Peer Support Volunteer and member of Caring for Us and Staff Association. She is actively involved in staff wellbeing in UNICEF and in One UN Rwanda.
Yvonne has a Bachelor’s degree in Management and is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration/ Supplies and Procurement with KIU.
She started getting involved in HIV/AIDS implementation in the work place in 2005 when she was working with Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC-CTB) as Financial and Administrative manager/projects for more than 8 years. She is a trained UN Cares and HIV/AIDS facilitator and has co-facilitated many orientation sessions on HIV/AIDS in the work place for One UN Rwanda staff. She is a single mother of 3 girls and 1 boy.
Julius Majale
I am currently working with UN-Habitat, Research and Capacity Development Branch, Global Urban Observatory section as a Data Processing Specialist.
In my duties I handle several data sets from several countries such as Demographic & Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys (MICS), AIDS INDICATOR SURVEYS (AIS) from developing world to compute indicators tailored to AIDS related such as knowledge of AIDS and HIV Transmission, stigma towards HIV-infected people, Perceived risk of getting AIDS, Testing and counseling for HIV, Prevalence among other topics.
I have vast knowledge and experience in Public Health having worked in most programs in this field. I have a lot of experience in research and data management in the area of demographic and health topics.
Since my knowledge on my HIV, I have lived positively and I work closely with UNPLUS Country Coordinator in organizing Bi-monthly meetings for UNPLUS members.
The UN Plus Global Coordinator is an ex-officio member of the group
