Resource allocation for HIV/AIDS Bill awareness/advocacy activites proposed under NACP-III

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum

 

Greetings from the State Advocacy Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Bill, Tamil

Nadu

 

In spite of the efforts taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,

Govt. of India, the HIV/AIDS Bill still remains with the Law Ministry for the

last 8 months without being tabled in the Indian Parliament Dr. Anbumani

Ramadoss, Hon'ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, India

satellite, International AIDS Conference, Mexico City, August 6, 2008.

 

The HIV/AIDS Bill that provides legal standing for PLHIV and other marginalized

groups against discrimination was prepared for National AIDS Control

Organizations (NACO) by Lawyers Collective, India in the year 2004.  The final

draft of the Bill was submitted to NACO in the year 2006. The Bill itself was

very comprehensive in nature.

Preparation of this Bill involved extensive consultations with PLHIV networks

and other civil society organizations in India .

 

Realizing the need and importance of the Bill, PLHIV networks and other civil

society organizations have come together and formed a National Coalition for HIV

Bill - To support and show solidarity with the Indian Ministry of Health to

strengthen its efforts in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The main objective behind the formation of National Coalition is to create

broad-based awareness about the Bill and to advocate with politicians and policy

makers for the early tabling of the Bill In line with the National AIDS Control

Programme Phase III (NACP-III) strategic objective/activity.

Under NACP-III (Enabling environment) one of the proposed activity to reduce

stigma and discrimination is to undertake advocacy and media promotion for

generating broad based awareness about the (proposed) HIV/AIDS Bill.

 

Even though in NACP-III NACO has proposed about undertaking advocacy and media

promotion for generating broad based awareness about the (proposed) HIV/AIDS

Bill and to translate and disseminate of HIV/AIDS legislation and to advocate

for speedy adoption of the same till date there is not clear cut implementation

plan of the same

1) How much resource will be allocated for these activities?

2) With whom NACO will partner to implement these activities?

3) How they are going to implement these activitiess, any specific time line

etc.

An overall of 47 crore was allocated for various activities under NACP-III to

reduce stigma and discrimination, human rights and strengthening PLHIV networks

which includes the above mentioned activities.

 

NACO should seriously consider allocating some resource for the above mentioned

activities and should come out with an implementation plan.

NACO can think about having a discussion with the partner agencies of the

national coalition for HIV/AIDS Bill and design an implementation plan.

It would be great if the Bill could become an act before the next parliament

election in the year 2009. This would be a milestone in the history of NACO and

the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India showcasing their

strong commitment and support towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.

 

The State Advocacy Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Bill, Tamil Nadu

E-mail: SSC_TN@...