Remembering Andrew Hunter (Announcement - 27 December 2013)

27 December 2013

The Global Fund mourns the loss of Andrew Hunter, member of the Communities Delegation to the Board of the Global Fund since 2011 and member of the Global Fund Human Rights Reference Group. He died in Bangkok on 26 December 2013. He was 47 years old.

Hunter was President of the Network of Sex Work Projects and a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Network of Sex Workers. He was a leader of a global movement to advance human rights for sex workers. His exceptional personal commitment led to a rapid growth and development of the movement, by grounding it in the principles of social justice, community empowerment and direct representation.

Quite outspoken about living with HIV himself, he also led efforts to advance human rights for others living with HIV, as well as for people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men and transgender communities.

While he never put himself in the limelight, he played a decisive role in shaping the international discourse around sex work. He provided leadership that successfully elevated human rights standards in multiple places. He trained and mentored many others, developing and inspiring new advocates and leaders across Asia and globally.

In his role on the Board of the Global Fund, Hunter was one of those who led the push to integrate human rights into the institution’s strategy. In advising the Global Fund on human rights, Hunter drew on an encyclopedic knowledge of real-life human rights violations experienced by sex workers in many countries.

With his passion and his piercing wit, Hunter inspired many to truly live up to principles of human rights, and to do better human rights work. His keen sense of humor and his steadfast, generous and empathic support of friends and advocates in need achieved a tremendous amount.

Hunter did much of his work without pay or compensation, often drawing on his own limited resources to help activists in need.

It will take the commitment of many of Hunter's colleagues and friends to continue the work that he started. The Global Fund expresses deep condolences to his beloved partner, Dale, and to his other family members, as well as to the international network of activists who were his adopted family.