Abesim: The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called for strengthened stakeholders' collaboration and intensified public education towards the nation's HIV and AIDS response.
According to Ghana Web, Mercy Larbi, the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, emphasized the need for intensified public advocacy to combat the spread of new HIV infections and to dismantle the barriers of HIV and AIDS stigmatization and discrimination. She addressed these issues during a two-day training session held at Abesim, near Sunyani, focusing on enhancing the role of legal assistance organizations in providing services for HIV and Tuberculosis (TB).
The workshop was organized by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in partnership with CHRAJ, with support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Global Fund. It is part of a national initiative targeting the southern, middle, and northern zones of the country to address stigma, discrimination, and human rights issues related to HIV and TB.
The event attracted a diverse group of participants, including legal practitioners, traditional leaders, law enforcement officers, educators, and civil society actors. During the workshop, Mrs. Larbi expressed her concerns over the increasing stigmatization and discrimination against Persons Living with HIV (PLWH), highlighting how these issues, along with breaches of confidentiality, hinder access to healthcare, social services, and justice for HIV-vulnerable groups.
Mrs. Larbi stressed the importance of public education in dispelling myths and misconceptions about HIV and urged for broader stakeholder support. She stated, "CHRAJ and GACC alone can't shoulder that responsibility," underscoring the crucial role of protecting human rights in effectively responding to HIV and TB challenges.
She also highlighted CHRAJ's Stigma and Discrimination Reporting System as a vital tool for individuals to report abuses and seek redress, encouraging the public to make use of this platform.
In a panel discussion, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Bambilla, the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator for the GAC, noted the commission's strengthened collaboration with civil society organizations in the regions. However, he emphasized the need for public support to overcome barriers in the fight against HIV in the country.