NAMIBIA: Disclosure a no-go - AIDS lawyer
Johannesburg, 14 March 2003 (IRIN) - Namibia's AIDS Law Unit on Friday said disclosure of a person's HIV status, before or after death, could "open up a Pandora's box of potential legal problems".
The ruling SWAPO party this week proposed that the global norm of "non-disclosure" should be relaxed when it comes to HIV/AIDS.
"Disclosure of a person's HIV status goes against Article 13 of the Constitution and soon to exist government HIV/AIDS policy," AIDS Law Unit lawyer, Tenu Avafia, told the UN news service PlusNews.
Avafia said disclosure would expose people living with HIV/AIDS to the stigma and prejudices associated with the disease.
Meanwhile, a Congress of Democrats member, Linus Chata has slammed the government for taking a "limp-wristed" approach in tackling the pandemic.
Theme (s):
Care/Treatment - PlusNews,
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[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]