Tamil Nadu HIV response: More legal aid clinics to come up in districts

July 9, 2007

More legal aid clinics to come up in districts

Special Correspondent

In areas where there is high prevalence of HIV positive cases

CHENNAI: In a joint initiative, the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control

Society (TANSACS) and the State Legal Services Authority have decided

to open more " Legal aid clinics " in districts with a high prevalence

of HIV positive cases, Project Director of TANSACS Supriya Sahu said

here on Friday.

Releasing a two-volume book on HIV/AIDS and the Law brought out by

the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Ms. Sahu said the first such

clinic had already been opened in the Namakkal Government Hospital.

A recently published National Family Health Survey (NFHS) had put

Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the forefront for spreading awareness among

the people.

Ms. Sahu said a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

initiative was currently on to sensitise lawyers on the issues

concerning HIV positive persons.

She said that prejudice and attitudinal problem and discrimination

against the HIV positive people were still prevalent in some pockets

which required to be addressed by all sections of society. " There has

to be a concerted effort in this regard, " she said adding that a Bill

would soon be promulgated in Parliament to help prevent

discrimination against HIV positive people.

Comprehensive handbook

Laya Medhini, advisor of HRLN, New Delhi, said the two-volume book

on " HIV/AIDS and the Law " was a comprehensive handbook for lawyers

and activists.

It contained chapters on issues such as gender vulnerability,

employment discrimination, commercial sex workers and medical

discrimination and access to treatment

Each chapter contained explanatory text and case summaries on the

topic, which can be used by lawyers and activists. S. Kannaiyan, HRLN

Coordinator based in Chennai, said the organisation collaborated with

social movements, human rights organisations and grass-root level

development groups to enforce the rights especially of those HIV

positive affected people and people with disabilities.

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