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Rwanda Civil Society roots for HIV/Aids victims law

Thursday July 18 2019
Rwanda Civil

Patients at a District Hospital in the Northern Province.Rwanda Civil Society platform which coordinates and monitors government policies is seeking for a special law on HIV and AIDS.PHOTO | Cyril NDEGEYA

By ARAFAT MUGABO

Rwanda civil Society platform which co-ordinates and monitors government policies is seeking a special law on HIV and Aids.

The platform says the current laws do not protect people who are infected by their partners and they are unable to get justice and treatment or sue the perpetrators.

Officials from the civil society said there is no special law for HIV and Aids victims.

The law would help victims get justice. Emanuel Safari, executive director, Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme au Rwanda (CLADHO), a human rights umbrella organisation, said lack of a specific law contributes to the denial of rights to people living with HIV/Aids.

“Currently, we are negotiating with civil society in order to see how to come up with this law,” said Mr Safari.

“HIV positive people are treated poorly, discriminated against in society, and the current laws do not allow them to seek justice when their rights are violated,” he added.

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However, Aflodis Kagaba, the executive director of Health Development Initiative Rwanda, said there is no need of a special law on HIV and Aids because victims can use the current laws to get justice.

“What is needed is a revision of current laws to include the needed articles,” he said, adding, “If we are to have another special law on HIV and Aids, we should wait for the East African Community HIV deal to be enacted, because it is likely to have the needed provisions.”

The 2013-2014 Rwanda Aids Indicator and HIV Incidence Survey showed that HIV incidence in the country is 0.27 per cent, and is higher in urban areas than in rural areas.

HIV prevalence currently stands at three per cent.

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