The Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organizations (APCASO) and its partners cordially invite you to the XVIII International AIDS Conference satellite:
Legislating AIDS Epidemic in Asia and Pacific Region - Opportunities and Challenges in Advocating for the Rights of PLHIV (WESA04)
Wednesday, 21 July. 0700-0830. Mini Room 3. (Breakfast to be provided).
Session Chair: Moi Lee Liow, APCASO
Speakers and Presentations:
Anand Grover, Lawyers Collective
HIV Law in Asia and the HIV Bill in India
Murali Shanmugam, Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)
Legislating AIDS Epidemic in India Through Advocating for an Anti-discrimination Bill
Jenny Xia, Yunnan Daytop Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center
To Insure, Or Not to Insure? Advocating for the Rights of PLHIV in China
RD Marte, APCASO
Advocacy from the Ground Up –
Community Capacity Development for HIV Advocacy in Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam
Abstract:
Stigma and discrimination (S&D) are major obstacles in the current response to HIV and AIDS. S&D exists not only in people’s attitude and behaviour but also in policies and laws. One effective way to fight S&D is to work with legal professionals to protect the rights of PLHIV and advocate for policy changes that will lead to reduction and elimination of S&D.
The experience in China shows how a well-designed and determined effort by legal professionals, activists and the media could make a significant contribution not only in public perceptions towards S&D but also to policy changes by the all-powerful insurance industry. As a result, PLHIV now have equal access to insurance coverage in the country.
The experience in India shows how PLHIV networks could work with lawyers associations to advocate for an anti-discrimination AIDS Bill in the country. After several years, the Bill is now scheduled to be tabled in the Indian Parliament.
The session will then share ongoing advocacy capacity building initiatives from three countries: Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam. An interactive discussion will follow for participants to raise questions or comments, share experiences, and to identify how we can better use the legal resources and tools available to us to protect the rights of PLHIV for a more effective response to HIV and AIDS.
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