The Nationwide Human Rights Fee (NHRC) and its companions on Monday expressed fear over persistent stigmatisation of individuals dwelling with HIV/AIDS and different marginalised teams in Nigeria.
The fee’s Govt Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, and representatives of partnering organisations spoke in the course of the Entry to Justice Coordination Discussion board for individuals dwelling with HIV/AIDS and different marginalised teams on the NHRC’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Mr Ojukwu stated key populations – individuals at elevated danger of HIV/AIDS and different infectious illnesses and infrequently face authorized and social challenges that enhance their vulnerability to the illnesses and scale back their entry to healthcare and companies – are discriminated in opposition to because of concern and misinformation.
“Regardless of vital progress in addressing HIV-related discrimination, many affected people nonetheless encounter violations of their rights in healthcare, employment, and social settings,” he stated.
He stated the enactment of the Identical-Intercourse Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014 has uncovered risks the important thing populations face in Nigeria.
“The enactment of the Identical-Intercourse Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014 has equally dropped at the fore challenges of discrimination, indiscriminate arrest, torture and inhuman and degrading remedy of key populations in Nigeria.
“NHRC and different organisations have been on the forefront in in search of justice for victims of human rights violations associated to sexual or gender identification throughout Nigeria. We is not going to cease,” he stated.
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The Entry to Justice Coordination Discussion board for individuals dwelling with HIV/AIDS was launched by the NHRC in collaboration with the Nationwide Company for the Management of AIDS (NACA).
Director Common of NACA Temitope Ilori stated that the company’s partnership with the NHRC would strengthen the advocacy and success of addressing each well being and human rights insurance policies.
“We anticipate enhanced entry to authorized cures, improved safety of affected person rights, and stronger advocacy for equitable healthcare insurance policies,” she stated.
Senior Human Rights Adviser to the NHRC, Hilary Ogbonna, added the discussion board was aimed toward offering authorized assist to individuals dwelling with HIV/AIDS and key populations. He additionally stated that because of social, institutional, authorized and cultural discrimination, entry to justice for these individuals is restricted.
Mr Ogbonna famous that the discussion board could be held quarterly selling collaboration and a monitoring framework for monitoring human rights violations.
Current on the discussion board was the consultant of the Nation Director of UNAIDS, Oluwafisayo Fakayode. Ms Fakayode urged stakeholders to decide to the target of the discussion board by guaranteeing that justice is not only a privilege for the few.
HIV stigma in Nigeria
In accordance with UNAIDS, despite the fact that the speed of recent infections in Nigeria has been on decline over time, there are estimated 2 million individuals dwelling with HIV/AIDS within the nation.
Individuals dwelling with HIV and AIDS expertise HIV-related stigma. Regardless of NACA’s strategic aim to cut back the stigma by 2020, the stigma stays prevalent.
Consultant of the World Well being Organisation (WHO) Nation Director, Alexander Chimbaru, stated, “When you take a look at the stigma index, 22 per cent of the individuals coping with HIV had been stigmatised. And solely 10, or 9 per cent, after they skilled abuse, violent abuse, was going to report back to anybody.”
A report by Nigeria Well being Watch famous that HIV-related stigma in Nigeria stems from the misperception that the virus is attributable to immoral behaviour.
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In July 2024, the UNAIDS adopted 2024 decision 56/20 Human Rights within the Context of HIV and AIDS. This decision was adopted to make sure a human rights-based strategy to HIV response. Nevertheless, in the identical 12 months, no less than 18 states in Nigeria did not cultivate the HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act, of 2014.
Overview of the HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act, 2014
The HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act of 2014 goals to guard people with HIV from discrimination in all points of life, together with employment, neighborhood, and establishments.
Violators of the Act are to be prosecuted and face penalties.
People discovered responsible shall be fined no less than N50,000. Organisations that violate the Act shall be fined no less than N2 million, and the top of the organisation shall be held accountable. In both case, imprisonment for not lower than one 12 months could also be imposed.
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