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Re-igniting the passion of Human Rights in the era of HIV 19 June 2009 Today, as The AIDS Consortium re-launch the HIV and AIDS Charter, many people living with HIV continue to have their rights violated by those that love them, strangers, healthcare workers, work place colleagues, communities and their families – hence the necessity of reaffirming a 17 year old document. Almost three decades into the epidemic, stigma (internal and external) remains a deterrent to accessing HIV testing, treatment and a positive lifestyle and inhibits the attainment of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV and AIDS 2007 -2011 goals.
To deliver an address on this prestigious document is Justice Edwin Cameron, Constitutional Court Judge, founder and patron of The AIDS Consortium, who was also one of the three lawyers who drafted the initial document. Mark Heywood, in his capacity as the Deputy Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and a Government official from the Department of Health have been invited to deliver a message of endorsement for this document. As part of the proceedings, The AIDS Consortium will also share, through a video, public’s opinion around the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.
The Charter follows the Freedom Charter of South Africa, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and was a forerunner to the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa 1996. It continues to complement these and other policy frameworks, such as The National Health Act and The National Strategic Plan, and acts as a guide for other international Charters.
“This re-launch is the beginning of a process of engagement, where The AIDS Consortium calls for further interrogation and discussions on stigma and discrimination as one of the root deterrents to positive living. This document will hopefully one day become invalid as all people will be upholding the rights of people living with HIV” says Denise Hunt, Executive Director of The AIDS Consortium.
The
AIDS Consortium calls on every South African to take this opportunity
to re-ignite the passion of activism by interacting with this document
and taking ownership for its implementation. |
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