Human Rights Violations Continue for People Living with HIV in Asia

  

Weak laws and giant gaps in protection against discrimination have left people living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific facing human rights violations. Because of fear of discrimination and stigma, many of those most vulnerable don’t access the legal protections available to them. A report released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) explores these issues in depth.

Countries in Asia and the Pacific, including China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Fiji, Mongolia, and more, have added laws meant to protect people living with HIV. However, the effectiveness of these laws is questionable. The UNDP report highlights specific gaps in these laws and law enforcement practices. One example given is that none of the countries in South Asia have national HIV laws, despite the fact that HIV bills have been in existence in Pakistan, Nepal, and India. This creates an unnecessary grey areas for HIV testing rights, informed consent rights, and confidentiality rights.

The UNDP report also looks at gaps between laws that exist and what actually takes place. many countries have laws in place to protect people living with HIV, but obstacles in gaining access to justice prevent these people from seeking legal help. Many of the findings in the report show that people living with HIV in socially marginalized communities lack the money or access to state justice systems to challenge large institutions in legal proceedings.

It’s not all bad news in the report, though. Some countries in the region have taken to using alternative legal approaches to seek justice and enforce rights. Viet Nam has taken advantage of mediation and negotiation to resolve discrimination cases, allowing both parties to avoid the costly fees of going to court. People living with HIV in Thailand have received a great deal of support from NGOs in fighting for better access to treatment.

It’s important to know where legal protections for those living with HIV around the globe stand. The only way we can collectively advocate for better treatment of people living with HIV is to educate ourselves and others about current gaps in the system. For more HIV advocacy resources, news, and advice, visit HIV Advocates online.

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HIV Organizations Team Up to “Know It, Prove It, Change It”

  

While many organizations focus on education and safe-sex awareness,  HIV Advocates knows that advocacy is crucial for the cause. This is why HIV Advocates features the accomplishments of grassroots organizations around the world and highlights advocates’ stories. A group of three organizations in Asia have come together to create a three-part publication discussing HIV advocacy.

Asia Catalyst, Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group (TTAG) and Dongjen Center for Human Rights Education and Action lead the creation of the publication, while consulting 120 Asia-based organizations for their input. TTAG is based out of Bangkok, Thailand with the goal of achieving equal access to HIV treatment for all, especially highly marginalized groups like drug users and those in prison. Dongjen Center for Human Rights Education and Action, from Beijing, China, aims to defend the rights of people living with HIV and change Chinese law to protect those living with AIDS. Asia Catalyst, based out of New York in the United States, is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that provides resources, coaching, and technical assistance to new NGOs.

Each part of the series has a manual that discusses the steps to take as well as a trainer’s supplement that includes lesson plans, sample exercises, and templates to be used for instructional workshops. “Know It,” the first publication in the series, is rich with human rights information for HIV advocates and those living with HIV to use. The second portion, “Prove It,” teaches grassroots organizations and those living with HIV about how to properly document human rights abuses to stay legally protected. The most recent publication of the three-part series, “Change It,” focuses on helping other grassroots organizations know how to how to launch successful advocacy campaigns. It aims to educate with key terms used and case studies of creative advocacy campaigns.

TTAG, Asia Catalyst, and Dongjen Center for Human Rights Education and Action is always looking for input from other grassroots organizations. To help improve the series, email Asia Catalyst at info@asiacatalyst.org. For more HIV advocacy resources, news, and advice, visit HIV Advocates online.

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