A key workshop that ended on Wednesday recommended that the government to take a fresh look at laws that criminalise populations at risk of HIV/AIDS.
Being criminalised, at-risk populations such as sex workers, gays, intravenous drug users tend to hide and avoid services, raising the risk of spreading the disease.
They also do not get legal redress for suffering violence, denial of care, and work related discriminations.
The government’s National AIDS/STD Program and UNAIDS jointly organised a three-day workshop that ended with some key findings that would be incorporated in the review of the National Strategic Plan, scheduled for early next year.
The workshop looked at gender issues in national HIV response and found that gender inequality should be addressed to ensure the human rights of key populations and women and girls.
The workshop stressed “multi-sectoral leadership” and resources to address gender inequality, human rights violations and ensure equitable access to services.
The specific concerns the workshop participants identified are the human rights violations of at-risk populations and women and girls, and the lack of gender-sensitive policies.
“Let’s lift the lid on the puritanical version of life that is depicted in too many policies and programs,” new UNFPA Country Representative Argentina Matavel Piccin said. “Let’s recognise what is actually happening on the ground, and address the reality of the situation”.
The workshop also suggested a campaign to address sexual and gender-based violence and gender power imbalance.
It also called for addressing social exclusion and marginalisation of key populations, including women and girls, to ensure equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services including HIV prevention services and treatment and social protection services.
Representatives from the government, civil society organisations, organisations representing people living with HIV and key populations such as female sex workers, people who inject drugs, gays, transgender people, NGOs, and UN agencies participated in the discussions to identify gender-related policy and programmatic gaps.
