HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS LACKING FOR HIV/AIDS SUFFERERS
There is an almost total absence of laws protecting the human rights of
those with HIV/AIDS in developing countries worldwide, according to a study
appearing in the Oct. 1 issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndromes.
Only 21 of the 121 countries surveyed -- which represent 16% of the world's
population -- have "specific" laws to protect those with HIV from social
discrimination. Researchers led by Dr. Raffaele D'Amelio of the University
of Rome consulted the World Health Organization Directory of Legal
Instruments Dealing with HIV Infection and AIDS and two worldwide surveys
that examined HIV testing in the military to conduct their analysis.
The survey revealed that AIDS is a notifiable disease in 60% of the
countries surveyed and HIV is notifiable in "no more than" 26%; names are
kept confidential by law in 20% of the countries surveyed; 17% of the
countries surveyed have "HIV-specific" legislation outlawing social
discrimination against those with the virus, while 10% have laws that set up
a system for reimbursing those who acquired HIV from contaminated blood
products; 11% have legal measures supporting condom promotion and 10%
impose legal penalties for those who knowingly expose others to HIV.
Dr. Anne-Valerie Kaninda, a medical adviser for Medecins Sans Frontieres in
New York, said that the findings are important because there is "so much
social stigma associated with the disease that [people with HIV/AIDS] need
protection." She added that in her organization's experience, offering
treatment encourages people to voluntarily get tested.

SOURCE: Reuters Health via Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 31
October 2001