10 Reasons Why Legal Services Must be Central to a Rights-Based Response to HIV

10 reasons why legal services must be central to a rights-based response to HIV

  1. Because informing people of their rights, while failing to provide ways to realize them, can be counterproductive and increase the burden on affected communities.
  2. Because law reform is a long-term goal, while legal services can improve peoples’ lives right now.
  3. Because taking legal action empowers individuals by affirming their right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
  4. Because lawyers and paralegals can use a range of legal and non-legal tools to solve problems, including working with traditional legal systems and community leaders.
  5. Because legal action requires all parties to state their case in an open, structured forum. Many issues such as discrimination in employment and health care are complex.
  6. Because legal services can also provide data on complaints and outcomes which can improve law and policy reforms.
  7. Because engaging the legal profession and the courts in resolving HIV-related issues and disputes strengthens the rule of law and good governance more generally
  8. Because legal services can be delivered in multiple ways, including by engaging law students, peer counselors, and by using paralegals and other community educators for referral.
  9. Because the integration of HIV-related legal issues into existing access to justice and legal aid programs mainstreams the response to HIV for long term sustainability.
  10. Because legal challenges combined with social mobilization can achieve policy reform and educate communities in ways which can have a huge impact nationally, and even globally.
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Uploaded on: Mar 27, 2015
Last Updated: Dec 04, 2015
Issues: Health, HIV/Aids, Legal Aid & Public Interest Law Tool Type: Training Resources & Popular Education, Video, Audio & Visuals Languages: English Regions: > Global