Human Rights and HIV/AIDS experts to meet

Accra, Sept. 29, GNA - Human Rights and HIV/AIDS experts from Africa, Europe and the United States of America are to meet in Accra from October 18 to October 20, 2006 to discuss the global challenges of the pandemic.

The three-day conference on the theme: "Working actively and in Partnership to Combat HIV/AIDS - The Human Rights Perspective" would focus on the human rights abuses of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and propose mechanisms to encourage good practices of handling the pandemic.

The experts, which would include International and Local Academics; Government Representatives; Researchers and Civil Society Activists, especially in the health and human rights sectors; would also critically analyse and share issues on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights at the three-day meeting.

The Ghana Aids Commission (GAC) in Partnership with the African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters - Ghana, (CAPSDH-Ghana,) a nongovernmental organization for the defence and promotion of human rights in Africa through education, research and advocacy, are the main organisers.

Speaking in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday, Dr Edmund N. Delle, CAPSDH-Ghana President, explained that the goal was to promote dialogue and discussion on HIV/AIDS to increase knowledge and cooperation to facilitate planning of effective actions to strengthen the human rights of victims.

The workshop would examine the role that human rights have played and could play in advancing the fight against the epidemic with the belief that the campaign against HIV/AIDS must address the human rights of infected people.

It would also share findings and experiences of discrimination and stigmatization, to facilitate regional dialogue on human rights and HIV/AIDS and to propose recommendations to the public, governments and policy makers on legislation of human rights issues and the creation of more effective support system for PLWHA.

The participants would dialogue on the intersection between human rights and the practices of HIV/AIDS education, prevention, care and treatment.

They would examine the role that human rights have played and could play in advancing the fight against the epidemic with the belief that the campaign against HIV/AIDS must address the human rights of infected people.

They would share findings and experiences of discrimination and stigmatization, to facilitate regional dialogue on human rights and HIV/AIDS and to propose recommendations to the public, governments and policy makers on legislation of human rights issues and the creation of more effective support system for PLWHA.

They would also seek to answer questions on how to promote enforcement of the laws, the role of governments, national institutions and NGOs in the promotion and protection of human rights. They would share lessons on discrimination and stigmatisation in Africa and what should be the response of NGOs, the private sector and individuals to reduce stigmatisation and discrimination. The participants would also consider how to encourage regional co-operation to improve humanitarian situations and create more support systems through a platform and network for regional dialogue. 29 Sept. 06