UNAIDS on Wednesday highlighted the need to remove laws that criminalize people living with HIV and communities most at risk of HIV infection, on the occasion of Zero Discrimination Day 2023 held on March 1. .
« Let’s save lives: let’s decriminalize » is the theme chosen for this year and which aims to highlight the positive impact on people’s health and existence when discriminatory and punitive laws are removed.
The UN body recalls that in 2021, humanity has set ambitious goals to reform laws to remove criminal provisions that undermine the response to HIV and leave key populations behind.
Recognizing that decriminalization is an essential part of the response, countries have committed that by 2025 less than 10% of countries will have punitive legal and policy frameworks that affect the HIV response, he continues.
According to UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, “Laws that criminalize prevent access to life-saving treatment. They must be deleted. Social inequalities, results of societal norms, lack of opportunities at school, etc. are the only reason people are still dying of AIDS,” she said.
And to add, “for me, HIV is a disease, but it is above all a social injustice. It feeds on the inequalities of society. These can only happen with a consensus in society. We therefore need to rally everyone to this cause”.
“If we want to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030”, we need to reform the laws, she recalled.
According to UNAIDS figures, in 2021, 48 countries still imposed entry restrictions for HIV-positive people, while 53 countries indicated that they required HIV testing, for example before issuing a marriage certificate or to authorize the exercise of certain professions. 106 countries said parental consent is required for teens to be tested for HIV.
For the UN body, these laws violate international human rights standards and stigmatize and discriminate against already marginalized populations.
Zero Discrimination Day is an opportunity to unite against discrimination and celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life with dignity, says UNAIDS.
Decriminalization saves lives and helps make progress towards ending the AIDS pandemic, according to the same organization.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1071 of 02/03/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
