Greek government repeals stigmatising law that contravenes human rights of people living with HIV
11/05/2015 - The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and Positive Voice, the first national organisation for people living with HIV in Greece, welcome the news that the Greek government has repealed Health Regulation No. GY/39A, which contravenes
human rights and has already deterred people living with and at risk of HIV from seeking testing,
treatment and care services.
The regulation, “Amendments that Concern the Restriction of Transmission of Infectious Diseases,”
was initially introduced and implemented in April 2012, and was used in 2013 to support the
further marginalization of people, including people who inject drugs, sex workers and
undocumented migrants, who are already stigmatized and criminalized. It gave the
police the authority to detain people without due process for the testing of
HIV and other diseases of public health importance, allowing them to
violate bodily integrity and autonomy by use of isolation,
restriction quarantine, hospitalization and treatment.
“The cancellation of the 39A Health Regulation was indeed great news, but we wait cautiously for the
new public health control law, to see what measures the Greek government will take against
transmittable diseases as a replacement for this policy. The impact of the regulation has
been catastrophic for some people, and has already discouraged people from accessing the
testing, treatment and care that people living with and at risk of HIV need. There is
already much damage to be undone,” said Antonis Papazoglou of Positive Voice.
Suzette Moses-Burton, Executive Director of GNP+, said: “Whilst we are delighted that the regulation
has been repealed, and congratulate all the advocates who have worked to bring this about, this
serves only to underline the vital need for centrality of human rights in all programming.
We remind the Greek government that good public health measures go hand in hand with
upholding the rights of all, including people living with HIV.”
GNP+ collects and maintains a global scan of laws impacting on the HIV response, especially those
relating to the criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission. See how your
country measures up at: http://criminalisation.gnpplus.net/ .
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For more information, please contact:
GNP+: Victoria Clarke, External Relations & Communications Officer; vclarke@gnpplus.net ; +31214234114
Positive Voice: George Tsiakalakis, Advocacy & Communications Officer; gtsiakalakis@positivevoice.gr , +30210867572 Source: The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)
The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)
The Global Network of People Living With HIV (GNP+) is the global network for and by people living with HIV. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. The vision is a powerful and united worldwide social movement of people living with HIV, with their leadership and voices at the centre of the HIV response. GNP+'s objective is equitable access to health and social services for people living with HIV by focusing on social justice, rights and involvement. This will be achieved through GNP's purpose, which is to promote the greater and more meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in programme and policy development (the GIPA principle). For more information, please visit www.gnpplus.net. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
"Reproduced with permission - Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)"
Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)
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