discrimination against people living with HIV/Aids is still a major problem in Mzansi and other countries.
But Larissa Klazinga, policy and advocacy manager at the Aids Healthcare Foundation, said there’s hope for the victims after a law against discrimination aimed at HIV/Aids patients was passed in the Indian Parliament recently.
This will give victims the right to report discriminators to the justice system and have their cases heard in court.
“We’re celebrating this important victory with India. With organisations like Lawyers Collective we have for 10 years been involved in trying to convince the Indian Parliament to pass the bill.
“This will give HIV-positive people the courage to tell others about their status. They are now protected by the law,” said Klazinga.
She said the South African law also protects HIV-infected people but more still needs to be done.
“Most South Africans living with HIV/Aids know nothing about their rights. They don’t know that the Labour Act, the Constitution and the law protects them.”
She said they can seek legal advice from Legal Aid SA and other organisations based countrywide.
The Aids Healthcare Foundation hosted the Keep The Promise march and event in Durban in July, where international artists such as Common and Queen Latifah warned people against HIV/Aids.
