Session
Source of Reference
State under Review
Recommendation
Strengthen the response against the HIV-AIDS pandemic through combatting discriminatory attitudes and stigmatisation of persons living with the virus. The guides on HIV and human rights are a valuable tool for this goal
Implementation notes
National Report:
Para 60) A national HIV Legal-Policy Environment Assessment (LEA) commenced in 2021 to assess the extent to which the existing laws, regulations, and policies ensure protection for those affected by HIV which will inform development of an action plan. Uganda adopted the Test and Treat Policy and effectively optimised treatment with high efficacious Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for children, adolescents and adults. A third line antiretroviral treatment to manage children, adolescents and adults failing on treatment has been rolled out. Uganda has registered a 42% reduction in HIV new infections from 66,000 in 2015 to 37,000 in 2020. Peri natal infections have dropped from over 20,000 new infections in 2011 to about 5,600 new infections in 2019. There was an increase in antiretroviral treatment coverage from 64% in FY 2015/16 to 89% FY 2019/20.
UN Compilation:
Para 7) The United Nations country team commended Uganda for its achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, noting that the Government had put in place a conducive policy, legislative and programmatic environment, which included the national policy on HIV/AIDS and the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2015/2016–2019/2020.
Para 9) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) noted that the sexual offences bill had been passed by Parliament and was pending presidential assent to become law. However, a few clauses would be detrimental to certain categories of the population, including the provision on “unnatural offences”, defined in the bill as sexual relations with persons of the same sex, which was discriminatory for LGBTIQ+ persons, and the provision considering HIV as an aggravating circumstance, which stigmatized persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 20) JS10 was concerned that some sections of the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act could result in discrimination against persons living with HIV. It recommended repealing the provisions in the Act that perpetuate discrimination and implementing the Anti-HIV Stigma and Discrimination Policy.
Para 60) A national HIV Legal-Policy Environment Assessment (LEA) commenced in 2021 to assess the extent to which the existing laws, regulations, and policies ensure protection for those affected by HIV which will inform development of an action plan. Uganda adopted the Test and Treat Policy and effectively optimised treatment with high efficacious Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for children, adolescents and adults. A third line antiretroviral treatment to manage children, adolescents and adults failing on treatment has been rolled out. Uganda has registered a 42% reduction in HIV new infections from 66,000 in 2015 to 37,000 in 2020. Peri natal infections have dropped from over 20,000 new infections in 2011 to about 5,600 new infections in 2019. There was an increase in antiretroviral treatment coverage from 64% in FY 2015/16 to 89% FY 2019/20.
UN Compilation:
Para 7) The United Nations country team commended Uganda for its achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, noting that the Government had put in place a conducive policy, legislative and programmatic environment, which included the national policy on HIV/AIDS and the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2015/2016–2019/2020.
Para 9) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) noted that the sexual offences bill had been passed by Parliament and was pending presidential assent to become law. However, a few clauses would be detrimental to certain categories of the population, including the provision on “unnatural offences”, defined in the bill as sexual relations with persons of the same sex, which was discriminatory for LGBTIQ+ persons, and the provision considering HIV as an aggravating circumstance, which stigmatized persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 20) JS10 was concerned that some sections of the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act could result in discrimination against persons living with HIV. It recommended repealing the provisions in the Act that perpetuate discrimination and implementing the Anti-HIV Stigma and Discrimination Policy.
Reference type
Response
Issues