People Living With HIV in dire need of Legal forum
Gloria Katusiime. May 22, 2003

The Equal opportunities Commission has been asked by development partners to include and give prominence to People living with HIV/AIDS, as a special vulnerable group with special needs and focus.

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) was set up under the auspices of the (1995) Uganda constitution to provide enabling laws and create opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalized people to participate in decision-making policies and development programs that affect their lives.

In the developing Policy, People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) had been left to fall into the categories of marginalized groups citing AIDS as cutting across all groups and therefore not necessitating special focus.

UNAIDS Uganda Representative Sheila Kawoya however voiced concern over this downplay saying People Living with HIV/AIDS are in dire need of a legal body to protect their needs.

She says people infected with HIV are being chased away from places of work, children whose parents have died of AIDS or are infected are discriminated against, PLWH are afraid to go for treatment and are discriminated on a daily basis.

'We should have special focus on HIV/AIDS because one is either infected or has been affected by the pandemic'.

The task was eventually left to the EOC task force to determine the level of prominence to be given to PLWH.

Other groups that have also been targeted for the equalization of opportunities include children, Youth, elderly, Women, Disabled, those discriminated against on basis of health ailments, geographical location and religion.

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Last update: May-22, 2003