NIGERIA: Lawyers tackle AIDS discrimination in south east

Two NGOs in southeastern Nigeria have threatened legal action against businesses and organisations discriminating against people living with HIV/AIDS.

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said their offer of free legal services followed reports of workers being dismissed after testing HIV-positive.

FIDA chairwoman, Ugo Ezekwem, was quoted by the Voice of America (VOA) news service as saying: "This is a problem that is really prevalent in this part of the world, and we have asked people who are victims to come to us for legal action."

Although Nigeria's constitution provides for non-discrimination on the basis of sex and place of origin, among other things, it says very little about people living with HIV/AIDS.

Ezekwem said she was hopeful that people living with HIV/AIDS could fall under the existing provision as it was still a form of discrimination.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Other,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]