COLOMBO, 2 May 2016—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes a decision by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court to prohibit HIV discrimination in education settings. The country’s highest court issued the directive in response to a fundamental rights violation petition filed by Chandani De Soysa, who is from the rural community of Illukhena, Kuliyapitiya in Western Sri Lanka.
Joint commitment on sustainable healthcare Published on Wednesday, 07 December 2016 15:47 The SPHS Task Team members UNDP, UNEP, UNFPA, UNOPS, WHO (as a convener), GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund and UNITAID co-signed on 7 December 2016 a Statement…
A high-level panel hosted by India as part of the BRICS group of countries discussed the issues of trade deals that inhibit access to medicines and also limit policy space for governments to legislate in public interest. The Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Shripad Naik called the proliferation of regional trade agreements “a reality” but added that these processes should move “within the ambit” of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). “We believe that the regional processes must move in tandem with the rules, standards and multilateral trade liberalization, within the ambit of the WTO, to maximize overall gains, for all countries
In Nigeria since the introduction of an anti-homosexuality law in 2014 which criminalises LGBT people, increasing homophobia has been having a negative impact on the HIV response. According to Premium Times, the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act has resulted in an increase in violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT), including police brutality.
The Philippine government observed what it described as the world’s first “AIDS Hour” on May 14. Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin said the awareness-raising event was “a concrete example of the Philippines doing [its] part in the global effort against HIV and AIDS.” Raising awareness is a key part of tackling the Philippines HIV epidemic, now the fastest-growing in the world. But by omitting HIV prevention measures for men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSMs) and people who inject drugs (PWIDs), the AIDS Hour is the government’s latest missed opportunity to educate and assist people at highest risk of contracting the virus