HIV/AIDS law review underway

By In2EastAfrica Reporter

The government is in the process of reviewing the HIV and AIDS Act to bolster and make it more effective in combating the disease and protecting the rights of those infected.

Launching the parliamentary guide book, titled “Raising the Profile of HIV and AIDS” in Parliament, the National Assembly Chairman Mr Sylvester Mabumba (CCM-Dole) said the review was taking into account issues of discrimination and stigmatisation.

“Stigmatisation and discrimination will be taken into account during the review as a major component of human rights issues. We want to make the HIV and AIDS law even more effective, to continue making Tanzania a leading example globally,” Mr Mabumba noted.

Mr Mabumba also proposed the importance for the guidelines to be translated into local languages to make them user friendly.

A mission of eight members of the HIV and AIDS Advisory Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) from different countries across the world joined their Tanzanian counterparts to launch the guidebook which was jointly organized by the two parties.

Earlier, in her introductory remarks, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on HIV and AIDS Ms Lediana Mng’ong’o (CCM Special Seats – Iringa)  and Chairperson of the Tanzania Parliamentary AIDS Coalition (TAPAC) said the IPU Mission was in the country in recognition of Tanzania’s effort in the fight against the pandemic.

Ms Mng’ong’o said the visit was aimed at examining structures and systems in place within the Tanzania parliament to tackle the epidemic in the country and learn about the steps taken by the parliament to ensure coherence and coordination of the government  in response to the epidemic.

She said the guideline handbook launched, is a call to action for bold parliamentary leadership, and serves as a comprehensive volume that legislators and other staff can consult for information and guidance on a wide range of issues relating to the disease.

The Chairperson of the IPU, HIV and AIDS Advisory Committee Prof Marleen Temmerman said the guidelines launched was the most recent IPU publication, published in response to requests from many members of parliament.

“Many MPs felt that parliamentary involvement of HIV/AIDS issues could be significantly strengthened through the establishment of specialized HIV cross-party bodies to provide impetus of action,” Prof Temmerman who is also a Senator in Belgium explained.

She said it is intended to be a practical tool for parliamentarians who wish to organize themselves across party lines and step up the challenge that HIV presents.

“It offers best practices on working with civil society and people living with HIV and has the potential to help parliamentarians who are struggling to keep HIV on the Agenda,” she explained.

By ROSE ATHUMANI, Tanzania Daily News

Source: In2eastafrica (13/09/2012): http://in2eastafrica.net/hivaids-law-review-underway/