Workshops and Seminars

The Unit has developed capacity building materials on the legal, ethical and human rights issues arising out of HIV/AIDS and marginalisation of vulnerable populations in India. There has been a continuing approach to inform and develop capacity of PLHAs and vulnerable populations about their legal rights as they relate to HIV/AIDS and marginalisation.

The Unit has been regularly conducting workshops/seminars/meetings on HIV/AIDS law for various stakeholders/sectors. The objectives of these initiatives are to empower and sensitise the various sectors that deal with the epidemic on the inextricable link between it and a rights based framework and to build capacity and knowledge on law and human rights vis-à-vis HIV/AIDS. The Unit has from 1998, undertaken many initiatives including workshops for trade unions, PLHAs groups, lawyers and NGOs, women's groups, policymakers, the judiciary and seminars with healthcare institutions in various parts of India. The Unit has also conducted such workshops for various stakeholders in other regions including Assam, Gujarat, Goa and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The workshops conducted by the Unit include:

  1. With NGOs and lawyers in Mumbai (1998), Delhi (1999), District lawyers workshop, Mumbai (2006)
  2. With PLHAs in Mumbai (with participants from South and West India, 1999) and in Delhi (with participants from the North and Northeast, 2000), Rajasthan and Jayapur network people, Jaipur(2005), Lucknow(2006).
  3. With Trade Unions and Management representatives in Mumbai (2000) and Thane (2001)
  4. With the judiciary - Bombay High Court(1999); Delhi High Court (1999); Gujarat High Court (1999); Andhra Pradesh (2000); Karnataka High Court (2002); Kerala High Court (2002); Supreme Court (2002), Kolkata High Court(2003), Bhopal High Court(2005), Chennai High Court( 2007).
  5. With policymakers in Mumbai (2000) and Delhi (2000)
  6. With Women's NGOs in Delhi (2001) and Mumbai (2002)
  7. With NGOs, healthcare workers, lawyers and PWA on Access to Treatment in Mumbai (2001), INP on Access to Treatment in Delhi (2005), A global South dialogue on HIV/AIDS & Access to Treatment in Mumbai(2005).

Seminars with healthcare institutions include those conducted : -

  • In Delhi - AIIMS, Delhi Medical Association, Maulana Azad Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, TB Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital, 2 ESI Hospitals, Municipal Corporation of Delhi/ New Delhi Municipal Corporation healthcare workers, Gurutej Bhadur Hospital, St. Stevan's Hospital.
  • In Maharashtra - Thane Civil Hospital, Sangli Civil Hospital, B.J. Medical Association, Pune
  • In Mumbai - Holy Family Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Harkisondas Hospital, K.J. Somaiya Hospital, Nair Hospital, LTMG Hospital, Cooper Hospital, Tata Memorial Hospital, GT Hospital, Jaslok Hospital, Brach Candy Hospital.

Resource to External Workshops



This is an important source of advocacy for the Unit, which has been continuously pursued. The members of the Unit are often asked to be part of panel of discussions and resource persons at various seminars and fora on HIV/AIDS and related issues. These include local, regional, national and international meetings and create an opportunity for the Unit to espouse the rights-based approach on large platforms.


Workshops with Various Stakeholders



The Unit on a regular basis interacts with various sectors/stakeholders that deal with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable communities with special emphasis on issues relating to Healthcare, Employment, Women, Trade Unions, Sex Workers, Injecting Drug Users and Men having Sex With Men. These workshops address issues of Consent, Confidentiality, Discrimination, Criminalizing transmission of HIV, Criminalizing various behaviours (including MSM activities and etc) Access to Treatment (including availability of drugs and patents law regarding drugs and pricing and affordability), Blood banking systems etc.