Activists urge for the immediate tabling of the HIV/AIDS Bill, 2009

[Guest guest]

Activists urge for the immediate tabling of the HIV/AIDS Bill, 2009

New Delhi, 30 November 2009: On the eve of World AIDS Day, organizations working

on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS gather in the capital to vociferously demand for

the immediate tabling of the HIV/AIDS Bill, 2009.

 

The HIV/AIDS Bill, 2009 was drafted and finalized in 2006 by the Health

Ministry, after country wide consultations with HIV positive groups, women and

children groups, and communities at risk of HIV, among others. In 2007, the

draft was sent to the Law Ministry. From 2007 to October 2009, the Law Ministry

has released four drafts of the Bill, each of which omitted several critical

provisions aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of people living with

and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The journey of the HIV/AIDS Bill has been extremely long and has been

characterized by disappointing drafts from the Law Ministry and public protests

against versions of the Bill that diluted its objectives and spirit. Ms. Daisy

of the Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+) expressed the

prevailing frustration amongst all: It is extremely disheartening to see the

HIV/AIDS Bill shuttling between the Health Ministry and the Law Ministry for the

last three years. We need this Bill to fight discrimination against people

living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Bill mirrors the aspirations and needs of the community and contains special

provisions to address the vulnerabilities of women and children to HIV. Ms.

Manjula K. of Action Aid highlighted some of the provisions of the Bill in this

regard: “The Bill entitles a survivor of sexual assault, even if it occurs

within marriage, to access HIV-related counselling and preventive treatment.

This will go a long way in reducing the vulnerability of women to HIV.

 

People living with HIV routinely face discrimination in hospital settings and

are denied treatment even in emergency situations. Mr. Pradeep Dutta of Nai

Umang Network of Positive People urges for the tabling of the Bill as: It will

become easier to access medical treatment. Firstly, the hospital cannot

discriminate against people living with HIV, and secondly, if they do, we can

approach the Health Ombud, who can pass orders to give instant relief. In

emergency situations, the Health Ombud must act within 24 hours.

 

The Bill also provides legal immunity to the provider and receiver of services

under targeted intervention programmes like condom promotion among sex workers

and distribution of clean needles to the drug users. Presently, organisations

engaged in risk-reduction programs face harassment from the police and other

public authorities because these programs are discerned as an abetment of sex

work and drug use. Speaking on the issue, Ms. Sudha Jha from SAATHII, Kolkata

said, Targeted intervention programmes like condom promotion and distribution of

clean needle have proven to be successful in controlling the spread of the

epidemic. The Bill provides a much needed fillip to these ongoing risk reduction

services.

 

Notes, Dr Joe editor of e FORUM, In light of the routine

rights violations faced by People Living with HIV/AIDS, the tabling and passing

of this Bill is extremely important. The Indian Government cannot afford to

delay this any further.

 

The Bill is presently with the Ministry of Law and Justice and is expected to be

tabled in the coming session of the Parliament.

For further details, contact-:

 

Ms. Surekha national Coalition on the HIV/AIDS Bill

Ms. Anushree Kini, National Coalition on the HIV/AIDS Bill

Ms. Bhagwati, National Coalition on the HIV/AIDS Bill

Mr Raman Chawla <raman.chawla@...>