What We Do

Advocacy

The Unit's Advocacy team complements its Legal Services. It is through the Unit's Advocacy efforts that links with a wide spectrum of PLHA networks, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Governmental agencies and other stakeholders are made in order to promote the rights-based approach to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Research initiative attempts to track legal developments on HIV/AIDS and public health in India and internationally, and critique the same through position papers, policy analysis and reports.

Advocacy Initiatives

Organising training/workshops/seminars/meetings on HIV/AIDS law for various sectors including PLHA, NGOs, lawyers, healthcare workers, vulnerable populations, trade unions, management, the judiciary and policymakers. The aim is to empower, sensitise and build capacity of the various sectors on legal-ethical issues arising in the context of HIV/AIDS within a framework of rights.

Monthly Thursday Drop-In Meetings: are held on the 1st Thursday of every month. It is a forum that provides an opportunity to NGOs, healthcare workers, lawyers and PLHA to interact on topical issues on HIV/AIDS and related issues and the law.

Organising and participating in Campaigns: to demand state accountability and lobby for change. The Unit led the 'Right to Marry Campaign', 'and the ongoing' Affordable Medicines and Treatment Campaign' and is part of the 'Campaign Against Section 377'. Some of these have been successful in getting policy decisions in favour of the rights of those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Right to Marry Campaign: Concerned by the suspension of the right to marry of PLHAs by a Supreme Courts order in 1998, the Unit, along with PLHAs and AIDS organizations campaigned nationally to generate debate and inform popular opinion on the issue. Following a legal intervention, in Mr. X v. Hospital Z (1998) 8 SCC 296 the right to marry was restored by the Supreme Court in 2002.

Draft Legislation on HIV/AIDS: On the request of the Government of India, the Unit has drafted a law on HIV/AIDS that modifies standards for consent and confidentiality, prohibits discrimination and creates as an affirmative legal environment for the HIV/AIDS risk reduction interventions. The legislation is currently under consideration by the Government.

Publications on HIV, Law and Human Rights in the form of leaflets, posters, newsletters, legal resource volumes and mammals are an important means of disseminating information and advocacy.

Our Publications
Positive Dialogue:
Newsletter on HIV/AIDS law, policy and programme development

Access:
Newsletter of the Affordable Medicines and Treatment Campaign

Legislating an Epidemic:
HIV/AIDS in India: Manual on HIV/AIDS law

Know Your Rights:
Leaflets in regional languages on Health and Employment Rights

To avail of the publications, contact us at the addresses provided.