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Abstract
HIV, human rights and the LGBTQ movement in India
K. Bhardwaj
Issues: Has HIV provided an impetus for the recognition of queer rights or has it resulted in further compartmentalization or stigmatization; has the demand for rights been utilitarian- that these rights are critical primarily in the context of preventing HIV and not in and of themselves.
Description: This paper discusses the inter-relationship between public health and LGBTQ rights. It explores the dilemma of the LGBTQ movement and HIV activists in India about whether the HIV movement should be the one through which equal rights should be recognized or achieved. This is examined through the process of drafting the HIV/AIDS Bill 2008. At consultations, representatives of the ‘MSM community’, at an emotional and philosophical level, grappled with the idea of the recognition of their rights in a legislation dealing with HIV.
Lessons learned: This paper argues that the role of the HIV epidemic and its impact on queer rights should not be underestimated. That there has been the realization of some aspects of rights. That the HIV epidemic has added another dimension - of access to healthcare services - to the historical progression of realization of LGBTQ rights from decriminalization to equal rights.
Next steps: There is however truth in the assertion that much of the human rights approach continues in a ‘disease prevention’ paradigm. Jonathan Mann wrote, “Linking human rights with health offers us a coherent vision of how to add the critical societal dimension to our public health work which, all too often, has stopped at the threshold of real societal issues.” Our challenge is to consolidate and document the gains and lessons of years of HIV programming based on human rights and ensure that the opportunity created by the HIV epidemic to highlight marginalization, inequality and inequity and truly tackle societal issues is not lost.
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
CDE0135
Suggested Citation
" K. Bhardwaj
HIV, human rights and the LGBTQ movement in India.
:
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
CDE0135"
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