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National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and partners have expressed worry over the persistent stigmatisation of persons living with HIV/AIDS and other marginalised groups in Nigeria.
Its Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, and representatives of partnering organisations during the Access to Justice Coordination Forum for persons living with HIV/AIDS and other marginalised groups held in Abuja, said people at increased risk of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases often face legal and social challenges that increase their vulnerability to the diseases and reduce their access to healthcare.
According to Ojukwu, “Despite significant progress in addressing HIV-related discrimination, many affected individuals still encounter violations of their rights in healthcare, employment and social settings.
He explained that the enactment of the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014 has exposed dangers that key populations face in Nigeria, saying its enactment has equally brought to the fore, challenges of discrimination, indiscriminate arrest, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment of key populations.
“NHRC and other organisations have been at the forefront of seeking justice for victims of human rights violations related to sexual or gender identity across Nigeria. We will not stop,” he said.
Access to Justice Coordination Forum for persons living with HIV/AIDS was launched by NHRC in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA.
The Director-General, NACA, Temitope Ilori said the agency’s partnership with NHRC would strengthen advocacy and the success of addressing health and human rights policies.
Senior Human Rights Adviser to NHRC, Hilary Ogbonna, added that the forum was aimed at providing legal support to persons living with HIV/AIDS and key populations, adding that due to social, institutional, legal and cultural discrimination, access to justice for these persons is limited.
Ogbonna noted that the forum would be held quarterly, promoting collaboration and monitoring framework for the tracking of human rights violation.
