Fwd: [RectalMicro IRMA] International HIV/AIDS Alliance: statement on new anti-homosexuality legislation in Nigeria

-



New anti-homosexuality legislation in Nigeria is a serious blow to the country's response to HIV

http://www.aidsalliance.org/NewsDetails.aspx?Id=291672

 

14 January 2013

 

On 13 January 2014, it was reported that President of Nigeria,  Goodluck Jonathan, had signed the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill into law. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance is deeply concerned by the severely negative impact the new legislation will have on the HIV response in Nigeria.

The Act will seriously impact the ability of men who have sex with men and transgender people to access life saving and essential HIV treatment and prevention services and also poses a serious threat to all organisations providing such services.

The HIV epidemic is one of the most formidable challenges Nigeria is facing today.  Over 3.4 million Nigerians live with HIV, making Nigeria the country with the second largest population of people living with HIV in the World. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people represent less than 1% of Nigerians but over 10% of new HIV infections occur among these populations. Providing targeted services and facilitating the free access of these populations to such services is therefore essential to end AIDS in Nigeria.

The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act prohibits same sex marriage or civil union, and carries up to 14 years' imprisonment. "This provision potentially criminalises every member of the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) population in Nigeria and makes it virtually impossible for members of this population living with or affected by HIV to freely seek essential health services. This new legislation is contrary to international standards of human rights prohibiting any kind of discrimination and to political commitments on HIV which Nigeria is bound by." said Enrique Restoy, Senior Human Rights Adviser.

The text also provides up to 10 years' imprisonment for any person who "supports the registration on gay clubs, societies, organisations, processions or meetings". This provision poses a threat to any HIV organisation providing services to the LGBTI population through peer to peer and other community-based HIV services requiring LGBTI organisations to deliver them also faces up to ten years imprisonment.

The Alliance's new strategy latest global strategy, HIV, health and rights: sustaining community action 2013-2020, is committed to targeting those most in need with evidence-based HIV and health programmes.

"To effectively meet the needs of these groups, we need to ensure the full involvement and leadership of key population representatives, including those living with HIV and to tackling the extreme stigma and violence faced by these groups" said Shaun Mellors, Associate Director for Africa. "What this legislation is doing is denying these very populations their very existence, the evidence demonstrates that for HIV programming to be effective, those most affected need to be centrally involved|". 

Background information

The Nigerian AIDS Commission's National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan 2010-15 outlines a number of key interventions to prevent HIV transmission among MSM to halt and reverse the HIV epidemic in Nigeria.[1] Punitive legislation like the new Act promotes risky behaviour, hinder people from accessing prevention tools and treatment, and exacerbate the stigma and social inequalities that make people more vulnerable to HIV infection and illness."[2]

Along with all other Un Member States, Nigeria signed in 2011 the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, whereby all member states committed to "intensify national efforts to create enabling legal, social and policy frameworks in each national context in order to eliminate stigma, discrimination and violence related to HIV, provide legal protections for people affected by HIV, and promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, with particular attention to all people vulnerable to and affected by HIV."[3] The passing of this Bill is in direct contravention to what the country is trying to achieve.

 

 

Enrique Restoy


Direct line: +441273718912. Mobile: +44 7889 603614

 

 

 



This message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. It may not be disclosed to, or used by,
  anyone other than the intended recipient without the consent of the sender. If you receive this message in error, please advise the sender immediately and
remove the email from your system. The contents of this email including any attachments may contain software viruses which could damage your
  computer system. While International HIV/AIDS Alliance has taken every reasonable precaution to minimise this risk, we do not accept liability for any loss
or damage sustained as a result of software viruses.
  
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales with company number 2883774 and registered
  as a charity under number 1038860. Registered office: Preece House, 91-101 Davigdor Road, Hove, BN3 1RE, United Kingdom.
 



[2] Global Commission HIV and the Law, Risks, Rights and Health, July 2012.

[3] UN General Assembly Resolution 65/277, Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: Intensifying Our Efforts to Eliminate HIV and AIDS, 8 July 2011.


This message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. It may not be disclosed to, or used by,
  anyone other than the intended recipient without the consent of the sender. If you receive this message in error, please advise the sender immediately and
remove the email from your system. The contents of this email including any attachments may contain software viruses which could damage your
  computer system. While International HIV/AIDS Alliance has taken every reasonable precaution to minimise this risk, we do not accept liability for any loss
or damage sustained as a result of software viruses.
  
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales with company number 2883774 and registered
  as a charity under number 1038860. Registered office: Preece House, 91-101 Davigdor Road, Hove, BN3 1RE, United Kingdom.

_______________________________________________
Rectalmicro mailing list
Rectalmicro@lists.critpath.org
https://lists.critpath.org/mailman/listinfo/rectalmicro


Thank you for being an IRMA member. Check out "The Rectal Revolution is Here: An introduction to rectal microbicide clinical trials" on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/RectalRevEnglish. Video also available in Spanish and Thai languages.



--
*********************************************************
"The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life." -- Jane Addams (1860-1935)
**********************************************************
Mac-Darling Cobbinah
Executive / National Director
Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights Ghana
Box AD 107, Adabraka - Accra
Accra -Ghana
Tel: +233-244-808280
Website:sites.google.com/site/cepehrg/
Skype: mac.darling.cobbinah

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Presbyterian Church U.S.A. to allow gay and lesbian clergy

-
Image
Presbyterian Church U.S.A. to allow gay and lesbian clergy The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Tuesday voted to allow the ordination of openly gay and lesbian ministers. The church put the vote to its 173 presbyteries, or governing bodies, nationwide. On Tuesday, the Twin Citites Area presbytery, which covers Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, became the 87th presbytery — and the deciding vote — to approve an amendment that will remove the constitutional requirement that all ministers, elders and deacons live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” The change, which opens up the possibility that people in same-sex relationships can be considered for ordination, is expected to take effect starting on July 10. It is the latest move by a Protestant denomination toward the inclusion of gay and lesbian clergy. “I see this as an opportunity to build a stronger church. Faithful and qualified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pr...
Read more

The Famous Christian Village in Accra

-
The Famous Christian Village in Accra Written by: Prince Kweku This famous ‘village’ with a population of almost two thousand is sandwiched between the University of Ghana, Legon and the Achimota Secondary School. Its location is four minutes’ drive from the Legon campus. The inhabitants are predominantly Ewes. The young men are mainly golf caddies while the women are engaged in a variety of activities to support their husbands and family. Interestingly, most of the inhabitants come from Adangbe in Togo which is two hours’ drive from the Aflao border. Recently, there have been huge migrations of Nigerians who are there for several reasons. The ‘illage’ is between Kisseiman and Dome, all suburbs of Accra. Although the village is associated with Christians, the behavior and attitude of the people do not conform to Christian standards. This famous village is known as the “Christian Village.” Let me proceed to justify the position I take that the village does not befit its ...
Read more

PROFILE OF THE NEWLY SWORN IN NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR THE NATIONAL YOUTH AUTHORITY

-
Image
by National Youth Authority on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 9:07pm Mrs Sedina Tamakloe Attionu holds a Masters Degree in International Retail Marketing from the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. A pharmacist by profession, Mrs Attionu has over 15 years proven experience in varying roles throughout her career particularly in general management, project planning and management, and in executing marketing activity against financial and marketing return on investment objectives. advocacy with governments and has managed diverse and multi-functional teams with varying skills set. She hopes that this will enable her co-ordinate and network with the large number of youth groups within the country and harness their energies for accelerated national development. She also set up and positioned The Pillbox as the first retail pharmacy chain in Ghana. As an entrepreneur, she recognises that entrepreneurship is the heart of any economy and a career with endless possibilities; that an indivi...
Read more