HIV/AIDS, human rights charter proposed in Zimbabwe

An HIV/AIDS and human rights charter that aims to protect and promote the rights of people living with the disease was proposed recently by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the Zimbabwe Standard reports.

Tinashe Mundawarara -- program manager for ZLHR's HIV/AIDS, Human Rights and Law Project, which was established in 2004 to create a rights-based legal response to Zimbabwe's HIV/AIDS epidemic -- said, "This charter is a result of concentrated efforts by many national partners who are committed to ensuring dignity, justice and equality for all." He added the project plans to promote the charter to the government as a means to "formulate legislative laws" to protect those living with HIV/AIDS.

South African Justice Edwin Cameron pointed to denial in Africa regarding men who have sex with men. He added that Zimbabwe has one of the lowest life expectancy rates -- age 35 for men and age 37 for women -- and that he is "shocked by the fact that" 45% of people are malnourished. According to Cameron, the charter was launched at an opportune moment given the "extraordinary political situation" in Zimbabwe. He said the current governmental situation in Zimbabwe is "linked" with poor health services in the country(Standard, 9/1).