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The coalition of African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) has applauded the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR)’s decision to establish a committee which will safeguard the protection of People Living with HIV/Aids (PLHIV) and those mostly vulnerable to the disease.
According to Joel Gustave Nana, Executive Director of AMSHeR this is an important step forward towards the full protection of rights of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with other men (MSM) on the continent.
“The inclusion of MSM, as persons whose rights should also be respected, protected and fulfilled under this committee’s mandate, is a clear statement by the ACHPR that the enjoyment of human rights cannot be limited by one’s sexual orientation”, Nana stated.
The ACHPR is a quasi-judicial body tasked with promoting and protecting human rights and collective peoples’ rights throughout the African continent as well as interpreting the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and considering individual complaints of violations of the Charter.
This “commendable” decision was made during the recently concluded ordinary session of the ACHPR in Banjul, Gambia.
“This decision has been taken at a time when gay, bisexual men and other MSM across Africa face worse forms of discrimination, unlawful arrests and detention, and legal restrictions to enjoying their fundamental human rights including the rights to access HIV prevention, treatment and care services”, AMSHeR stated.
A recent article by Marinda Kotzé Men who have sex with men: A neglected HIV risk population in Africa, states that research has revealed an alarmingly high HIV prevalence rates amongst MSM in Africa.
“Attitudes towards homosexuality have caused many MSM to become victims of stigmatisation and discrimination. Fear of possible victimisation has also led to many MSM concealing their sexual orientation”, states the article.
The mandate of the Committee on the Protection of PLHIV for the next two years will be to request, receive, analyse and respond to reliable information from credible sources on the situation and rights of PLHIV and those at risk.
It will also be responsible for making recommendations regarding allegations of human rights violations, engaging state parties on their responsibilities to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of people living with HIV and those at risk, also integrating a gender perspective and giving a special attention to persons belonging to vulnerable groups, including women, children, sex workers, migrants, men having sex with men, intravenous drugs users and prisoners.
“AMSHeR commends the African Commission’s decision while acknowledging the work of the Human Rights Development Initiative, Alternatives-Cameroon, the Center for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria and People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) partner organizations whose collaboration, work, and advocacy contributed to the adoption of the resolution”, concluded Nana.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 at 9:51 am and is filed under Breaking News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
