County Dialogues on HIV & the Law to Mark 16 days of Activism

Published on Sunday, 23 November 2014 10:36 “Thirty years into the HIV epidemic we still have major discrimination and stigma related to HIV, as well as laws and law enforcement that drive people away from HIV services. Such situations are undermining the HIV response across the world. This will only change if we make major investments in programmes to reduce such stigma and increase access to justice for those affected by HIV.” Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director, August 2011

County officials, healthcare workers, community elders, people living with HIV, members of key affected populations, law enforcement officers, and judicial officers will discuss key issues affecting People Living with HIV (PLHIV) during three dialogue forums planned for the 25 — 28 November 2014, in Kisumu, Bungoma and Kakamega Counties, respectively. The forums, which will take place during the 16 Days of Activism against gender violence, will be conducted by KELIN with support from various partners including the Commonwealth Foundation, UNDP Kenya & Raising Voices.

The forums will provide a opportunity for policy makers and law enforcers to engage with people living with HIV and other stakeholders in order to respond to the issues they raise in a safe and moderated environment. With the National AIDS Control Council pushing for county ownership of the HIV response, addressing the legal barriers has become more important than ever as evidenced by the findings of the study conducted by Global Commission on HIV & the Law. The presence of all stakeholders at these forums is critical to efforts to ensure an effective, sustainable response to HIV that is consistent with human rights obligations, as one of the recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV & the Law.

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Source: KELIN Kenya