Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeG8290-ThPeG8294 659

Circle, Fort, Mumbai, India, Tel.: [phone] / 9, Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected]

ThPeG82901

A comparative study of two different models of
legal service delivery to persons living with
HIV/Aids who face unfair discrimination because of
their HIV positive status: Lessons learned that
could benefit legal service providers in different
parts of the world

B.S. Christian, M. Kappagoda2. 1Campus Law Clinic, University of Natal,
Durban, South Africa; 2Community Law Center, University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
Issue: Legal service delivery to persons living with HIV/Aids who face unfair discrimination because of their HIV positive status.
Descriptions: A comparative study of two different models of legal service delivery employed by the Community Law Center, University of California, Berkeley,
and the Campus Law Clinic, University of Natal, Durban, respectively.
This study will begin by describing the different models employed in their respective (and very different) contextual settings.
Comparisons between the two models will then be drawn, and will include: a constructively critical look at the strengths and weaknesses of the respective models
(what works? what does not work? and why?);
How do these models benefit persons living with HIV/Aids who require such legal
services?
Lessons learned: The lessons learned include (ideas and thoughts around): how
to access clients who require such legal services; how to have clients access the
legal services; and increasing the constructive contribution of internal and external individuals and resources for the benefit of the client; inter alia.
Recommendations: Recommendations include (in different contextual settings)
whether additional individuals and resources should be based inhouse or outside
of the law center, inter alia.
Presenting author: Brendon Christian, 37 Grosvenor Road, Glenmore, Durban,
4001, South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeG8291I Enforcing the rights of persons living with HIV/Aids
in the context of the life assurance industry in
South Africa
B. Christian. Campus Law Clinic, University of Natal, 37 Grosvenor Road,
Glenmore, Durban, 4001, South Africa
Issue: Enforcing the rights of persons living with HIV/Aids in the context of the life
assurance industry in South Africa.
Descriptions: This presentation will focus on the issues involved in the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of persons living with HIV/Aids in the context of the life assurance industry in South Africa.
This presentation will discuss the challenges that legal service providers in South
Africa encounter when acting on behalf of clients who are living with HIV/Aids
and beneficiaries who also affected, including: disclosure of an individual's HIV
positive status; repudiation by an assurance company on the grounds of nondisclosure and/or the applicability of an HIV/Aids Exclusion Clause; possible
breach of doctor-patient confidentiality by the last examining physician; differentiation being distinguished from fair discrimination and unfair discrimination; the
wording of an HIV/Aids exclusion clause - and the challenges that this raises; to
proceed on insurance law, contractual principles or constitutional principles?
Lessons learned: The reality is that what we really want in South Africa is for our
clients to get paid what is rightfully theirs.
The presentation will also discuss lessons learned in attempts made thus far to
get a sound precedent. (Will we ever get a precedent - that is in our favour? Are
life assurance companies prepared to risk going to court?)
Recommendations: will include suggestions on the best way to proceed (in the
context of litigation), inter alia.
Presenting author: Brendon Christian, 37 Grosvenor Road, Glenmore, Durban,
4001, South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeG8292 Greater Involvement of People with HIVIAIDS
(GIPA) in Indonesia: Giving a Human Face to The
Epidemic, Building a Critical Mass and Getting a
Place at The Table
S. Murni, D. Marguari. Spiritia Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia
Issue: As the one affected by AIDS programs and policy, people with HIV/AIDS
(PWHA) have a role in AIDS efforts at every level, but the GIPA principle is not
practiced among AIDS organisations and policy makers. PWHA are object of research and interventions. Involvement in planning, implementation and evaluation is rare. PWHAs appeared in public and mass media since the beginning of
1990's, often exploited as victims. PWHA had little control over AIDS programs.
Their participation were often tokenistic.
Description: Spiritia Foundation, formed in 1995, aim to enhanche PWHA activism and promote GIPA. To enable PWHA to participate and to avoid tokenism,

we develop programs with and for PWHA. We initiate contacts with PWHA from all
over Indonesia, conduct trainings on advocacy skills, organized National PWHA
Meetings to raise PWHA concerns collectively. National network of PWHA is
formed to provide peer support, distribute knowledge, and inspire leadership. We
open dialogue with stakeholders and represent PWHA at national forums.
Lesson learned: The programs increase PWHA self-esteem to regain control
over their life. They feel encouraged to join AIDS activities and confident to voice
their concerns. More support groups are formed, more PWHA come forward
to speak out and the quality of their talk improved, and more PWHA are consulted in decision making processes. Obstacles include minimum understanding
among decision makers about GIPA. There are many weaknesess in accomodating PWHA perspective. The environment in which PWHA live still unsupportive,
hindering many PWHA to come forward or disclose their status.
Recommendations: GIPA principle should be promoted to PWHA and other
stakeholders. PWHA need skills building and learning opportunities to make a
real positive impact. Others stakeholders should be educated about GIPA so they
could accept and consider PWHA point of view. Support system for PWHA activists is needed to maintain their contribution.
Presenting author: Suzana Murni, Jalan Radio IV No.10, Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta 12130, Indonesia, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: su
@xena.com
ThPeG8293 Involvement of people with HIV in a service NGO
D. Takura1, M. Keogh1, P. Ward2. 1Terrence Higgins Trust, 788a Alcester Road
South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B 14 5EZ, United Kingdom; 2Terrence Higgins
Trust, London, United Kingdom
Issues The UK's Sexual Health & HIV Strategy emphasises the importance of the
involvement of people with HIV (PWHIV) in planning & developing services. Whilst
affected communities were often involved in developing services during the early
years of the UK HIV epidemic, more recently genuine and integral PWHIV involvement in the development & delivery of many services in statutory and voluntary
sectors has diminished. Much involvement is tokenistic or purely consultative.
DescriptionTerrence Higgins Trust has developed a range of involvement strategies to ensure that people with HIV are involved at every level of the organisation.
These include: targeted recruitment to a skills-based Board; staffing strategies
which encourage applications from people with HIV; jobs which value the knowledge base and experiences of people with HIV; volunteer research and targeted
recruitment; local advisory groups and a National Advisory Council which reports
directly to the Board; formal and informal needs assessment and research. Sector
development is taking place to enable services to move from providing a culture of
dependency to advocating self-management and providing training opportunities.
This presentation will discuss the strategies used and problems encountered.
Lessons Learned Integrated involvement of PWHIV has led to considerable
change in services in response to expressed need and an expanded knowledge
base. These include peer support, training opportunities, health promotion for
and by people with HIV, expanded campaigning and clearer, more targeted involvement mechanisms. There is greater diversity between regional services in
response to local needs. More people with HIV are becoming involved in the organisation again.
Recommendations PWHIV can and should be actively involved at every level of
HIV service organisations and actively targeted for recruitment as volunteers and
staff, informing both service planning & delivery.
Presenting author: Dawn Takura, 788a Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 5EZ, United Kingdom, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
6441, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeG8294 Mae Chan Day Care Center Network: The combine
strategies of GIPA and multisectoral cooperation in
integrating AIDS prevention and care
S. Seesonosom1, S. Supawitkul2, B. Supawitkul1, U. Pintatum1, S. Saejeo'.
1 Mae Chan Hospital, Mae Chan Hospital, 274 Moo-5, Phaholyothin Road, Mae
Chan district, Chiang Rai, Thailand; 2Chiang Rai Provincial Health Office,
Chiang Rai Thailand
Issues: Effective HIV/AIDS prevention and comprehensive care for PWAs are essential in confronting HIV/AIDS. Day care center services and network may play
vital role in combine the strategies of greater involvement of PWAs (GIPA) and
multisectoral cooperation approach.
Description: During 1988-2001, the official reported AIDS cases, AIDS related
deaths, and AIDS affected children, in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province
of Thailand with 1.2 million populations, were 20,600, 5,287 and 3,287 cases
respectively. 13 day care centers (DCCs) were built up in Mae Chan District in
1995 with the aim of providing comprehensive care for PWAs. The combine approaches were applied aiming to integrating AIDS prevention and care, increasing
roles and strengthening PWAs, and encouragement of multisectoral cooperation

for community self-reliance and sustainable action. The strategy of GIPA obtained
by forming PWA groups in each DCC for peer support and care, DCC administration, support other DCCs by networking, training PWAs on management and fund
raising, linkage DCCs with community and religious institutions, and expansion of
PWAs' role on community prevention by teaching AIDS education to community
members in DCCs and communities, and sharing experiences on HIV/AIDS during community members provided care for PWAs at DCCs and communities. For