Status of the Legislation on HIV/AIDS in India

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

I had heard a lot about the legislation to be

introduced on HIV/AIDS in the winter session of the

parliament, however, nothing has been heard on that.

Can anyone share whats the status of that. I am

particularly worried about the pre-employment testing

being done by a lot of companies today and there is no

law against it really.

Regards,

Smita

E-mail: <smitagopal@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Congratulations Lawyers Collective for your achievement of bringing the India

AIDS Bill to the parliament. A great feet indeed! (May be the bill could have

been named as HIV/AIDS prevention and care bill rather than HIV bill.)

Hope this will be an inspiration for other Asian countries too.

In this context, I was wondering about the HIV program in Afghanistan, where I

am currently working. Since 2002 peace,stability and a new order have been

increasingly felt here, and HIV intervention programs also could have been

adequately introduced side by side.

During the last few years over 3.5 million refugees have come back to the

country mainly from the neighboring Iran and Pakistan through the assistance of

the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and a few more millions are yet to come.

During the last summer I was supervising the repatriation of over one lakh

Afghan refugees from Pakistan. Upon arrival at the UNHCR assistance center they

were given various types of assistance including briefing on mine awareness but

not on HIV/AIDS.

Though prostitution is less seen, Afghan society is well known for homosexual

activities and drug use-including injection methods.

Hence it would be highly relevant to introduce HIV/AIDS counseling also in the

assistance centers maintained by UNHCR at various border points all over the

country.

Indian experience of dealing with HIV/AIDS Challenge would be of use for

Afganistan.

Tito

from Afghanistan.

E-mail: <THOMAST@...>