Structure

Advocacy of the Unit involves the creating of awareness about the legal, ethical and human rights issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and creating an appropriate legal environment by way of policy and law. It also involves highlighting the vulnerabilities of the marginalized populations such as the Sex Workers, Men having Sex with Men (MSM), Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), Women etc to HIV and addressing these vulnerabilities.

Most importantly it seeks to protect the rights of the People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) and the vulnerable groups thereby empowering them. The Unit believes that ultimately it is protecting the rights of the PLHAs and the vulnerable communities that society as a whole will be protected from HIV.

Stakeholders/Sectors

The stakeholders include the PLHAs, marginalized and vulnerable groups, women, healthcare workers, the law and policy makers, administrators, law enforcement authorities, healthcare personnel, employers, trade unions etc. The Unit interacts with the stakeholders and seeks to create awareness amongst them and to sensitise them to the legal, ethical and human rights issues arising from HIV/AIDS. The Unit also takes initiatives to train the legal community i.e. the lawyers, law students and others to take up case-work related to PLHAs and vulnerable populations and to provide legal aid and advice.

The Unit has a special focus in its advocacy efforts with the judiciary. We believe that it is important for the judiciary to be familiar with the complex issues arising out of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Objectives

The Unit has a 2 tiered objectives :
(i) to inform, build the capacity of and to empower PLHAs and vulnerable populations, and
(ii) to sensitise the stakeholders to the specific legal, ethical and human rights issues arising from HIV/AIDS and those related to vulnerable populations so that steps are taken to foster an enabling legal environment.

Initiatives

The Unit has identified and continues to identify the key legal, ethical and human rights issues arising out of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These are popularized and capacity built on them in the stakeholder's communities. Additionally the lacunae in the law and policy impacting on HIV/AIDS epidemic are identified and measures are suggested to fill the lacunae.

On the key legal and ethical issues awareness is raised amongst the stakeholders through workshops, seminars, pamphlets, newsletters, write ups and etc. The lacunae are also highlighted through such media.

Additionally, campaigns have been launched by the Unit on critical issues of the moment. The Unit has developed capacity building material on issues arising out of HIV/AIDS which impact the spread of HIV.