HIV/AIDS, law, ethics and human rights in the pacific countries.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10028)
Lakshman CS University, Suva, Fiji
The Paper will present a detailed status of the law, ethics and human rights issues in context of Hiv/Aids in Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Over the past decade, Hiv has spread widely across the region. in Pacific, Hiv/Aids has long been regarded as purely a medical and health issue. as a result policies and strategies to combat the infection has been lergely developed out of health and medical models. This approach ignored the fact that vulnerability to Hiv/Aids and its effects can be linked to human rights issues such as poverty, unemployment, powerlessness, exploitation (particularly of children and women), discrimination and inequality. The paper will examine the laws as it stands in the country and the will suggest reccomendations to redress discrimination inrelation to people who live with Hiv/Aids in the region. It will also suggest strategies that need to be implemented that adress the need for law, ethics and policy reforms to prevent discrimination, protect human rights and create the legal environment necessary to prevent the spread of the virusand support people with Hiv or Aids.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Human Rights, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Health Services Needs and Demand, Infection, Health, Socioeconomic Factors, Demography, Health Planning, Melanesia, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Polynesia, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Humans, Female, Child, Ethics, ethics
