HIV POSITIVE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

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HIV POSITIVE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

• By Christine Aguti

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Introduction /Background

• From 1986 during the insurgence caused by the
  UPA, LRA and the Karamojong warriors which is
  continuous, the communities in Teso got disturbed
  and ended up in camps, cohabiting with soldiers,
  migrating to other urban places for security
  purposes. All this displacement caused a high
  rate of infection of HIV to the community and
  culture worsened it with inheritance of widowers,
  and widows.
• There was a high rate of stigmatization and
  discrimination which caused bad health,
  depression, stress and early death of PLWAs and
  lose of property, exploitation of orphans, early
  marriages and children dropping out of school
  especially girls.

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Introduction Cont

• Due to this abuse, with the strength, courage and
  
• determination I gained from NGEN in 1997 when
• KUDINET was launched.
• I fluked a workshop which was organized by
  FIDA-Uganda
• for Para-legal training and demanded to be a
  Para-legal to
• represent PLWAs and their rights, I was allowed.
  There I
• received skills related to Law and the
  Constitution.

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Methodology

• After the training, I started sensitizing the
  communities through the media (Radio Talks) on
  clinic days and outreaches, where TASO takes its
  services of counselling and treatment.
• Organized groups were trained and all these
  trainings were targeted on issues concerning law
  and legal advice.
• Law related to inheritance
• Law related to human rights
• Law related to defilement and rape
• Law related to child abuse
• LCs Children's affairs were also trained on the
  above.

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Conti

• We gave legal advice and counselling to those
  with specific legal related problems
• Early marriages
• Property grabbing
• Stigmatization in the community
• General management of positive living.
• Referring cases to law enforcement officers and
  other related agencies in the region.

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Collaboration

• We joined the coalition against corruption
• We joined the Uganda Joint Christian Association
  (UJCC) on advocacy for respect and observance of
  the law, equal participation on decision making
  and planning for PLWAs in forums.
• Collaboration with TASO for counselling,
  medication and social support for PLWAs

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Results/Experiences

• The abuse of PLWAs has reduced at least by 45
• PLWAs are represented in Boards in their
  respective districts
• Sensitization have equipped the communities with
  good knowledge of PLWAs around them.
• PLWAs have opened up to overcome abuse at the
  grassroot level.
• A good number of PLWAs have their wills/memory
  books prepared for the better welfare of the
  future of their children.
• Stigmatization/ Discrimination at workplaces
  and in communities has dramatically reduced and
  PLWAs are cared and supported by their
  supervisors.

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Results/Experiences Conti

• PLWAs sexual desires are respected. Like on
  either to have choice of having babies or not.
• Service providers have increased e.g. TASO
  services, Uganda Cares, Govt hospital services
  e.t.c.
• The LC system of the communities have been
  sensitized to know and understand their roles and
  the rights of PLWAs
• The coming of ARVs has been a big achievement in
  the fight of the above.
• I would like the Donor, Govt NGOs and PLWAs for
  the great struggle they have put in to achieve
  the above.

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Conclusions/Recommendations

• There is need to train more PLWAs on legal
  matters
• There is need to sensitize the communities about
  the rights of PLWAs
• These sensitizations of law should go down to
  the rural people because they have not got the
  know-how to defend themselves.

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Thank you, together we struggle we shall win.
By Aguti Christine, Day Care Supervisor TASO
Soroti