Τρίτη 10 Δεκεμβρίου 2013

Ending the AIDS epidemic is a matter of human rights

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS  
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations








10 December 2013

I believe we can end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

This is a goal we should all aspire to––but it can only happen if the human rights of all people vulnerable to and living with HIV are realized.

HIV has taught us that health and human rights are intricately linked and that we need to protect and respect human rights and be courageous enough to confront society’s wrongs. 

It is unacceptable that women and girls, sex workers, people who use drugs, migrants, prisoners, men who have sex with men and transgender people are assaulted, violated and murdered, and yet our conscience is not revolted, nor our sense of human responsibility challenged. 

How can the world accept that some people have access to safety and services while others are excluded because of legal and social status, income or sexual orientation? 

Even where HIV services exist, punitive laws and law enforcement can stand as implacable barriers. 

We must reject this double standard wherever we encounter it.

Human rights must be respected and fulfilled for everybody. 

People who are suffering, who are underground or who are hiding do not deserve silence—they deserve justice.

People living with and vulnerable to HIV have fought for and, in many places, won their human rights––the rights to nondiscrimination, to participation, to health in the form of HIV prevention and treatment, and to life. 

They have turned traditional development on its head by demanding “nothing about us without us”, refusing to be passive beneficiaries, demanding to be themselves agents of change.  

But millions more do not benefit from health or human rights.

Achieving our vision of 
zero new HIV infections, 
zero discrimination and 
zero AIDS-related deaths will demand human rights. 

Everyone has equal dignity and value, and everyone deserves the right to health and to life.

President Nelson Mandela said it well,  
“Courage is not the absence of fear—it’s inspiring others to move beyond it.” 

This is having the courage to end the AIDS epidemic; it is also having the courage to radically reshape our world—into a world where no-one is left behind. 

This is the legacy of President Mandela. 

Let us build on his legacy and make it the future—through human rights for all. 

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of 
zero new HIV infections, 
zero discrimination and 
zero AIDS-related deaths. 

UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—
UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners to maximize results for the AIDS response. 

Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, 

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, 

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, 

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations, 

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, 

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, 

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.

  • All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

  • Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

  • Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.

  • No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

  • No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

  • Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

  • All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

  • Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

  • No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.

  • Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

  • (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
  • (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.

  • No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
  • (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
  • (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
  • (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.

  • (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
  • (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
  • (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
  • (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.

  • Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.

  • Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
  • (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
  • (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
  • (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.

  • Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
  • (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
  • (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
  • (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.

  • Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
  • (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.

  • (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
  • (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
  • (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.

  • (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
  • (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.

  • Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.

  • (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
  • (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
  • (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.

  • Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Ανακοίνωση – Καταγγελία/ HOMOphonia – Thessaloniki Pride



Σήμερα -07 Δεκ 2013- πληροφορηθήκαμε ότι το νοσοκομείο ΑΧΕΠΑ της Θεσσαλονίκης αδυνατεί να καλύψει τις ανάγκες των οροθετικών σε αντιρετροϊκά φάρμακα, λόγω της μειωμένης χρηματοδότησης από το κράτος (η χρηματοδότηση μειώθηκε το 2013 κατά 36%).

Εξαιτίας της πλήρους έλλειψης φαρμάκων εκτίθενται σε θανάσιμο κίνδυνο 1200 οροθετικοί από την Κέρκυρα μέχρι και την Ανατολική Μακεδονία... 

Η HOMOphonia - Thessaloniki Pride είχε πραγματοποιήσει δράση την Κυριακή 1η Δεκέμβρη στο νοσοκομείο ΑΧΕΠΑ ζητώντας από την επίσημη πολιτεία να σταματήσει να κωφεύει μπροστά στα προβλήματα που προκύπτουν από τη δραματικά μειωμένη χρηματοδότηση και να προβεί σε συγκεκριμένες ενέργειες για τον εφοδιασμό του νοσοκομείου με επαρκή ποσότητα αντιρετροϊκών φαρμάκων.

Η έλλειψη αντιρετροϊκής αγωγής βάζει σε άμεσο κίνδυνο την ζωή του κάθε οροθετικού και παράλληλα αυξάνει τις πιθανότητες εξάπλωσης του ιού, αφού με τη διακοπή της αγωγής ο ιός γίνεται ολοένα και πιο μεταδοτικός.

Ενώνουμε την φωνή μας μαζί με κάθε οροθετικό που η ζωή του βρίσκεται σε κίνδυνο και απαιτούμε από το Υπουργείο Υγείας την άμεση αύξηση της κρατικής χρηματοδότησης, χωρίς την οποία είναι αδύνατο να ανταποκριθεί το ΑΧΕΠΑ στην αγορά των φαρμάκων.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1pGuMoZSTx1H7_jl53mcEXzanekMUaNlBu7NJKGyYoA2uo124

Έφυγε ο Μαντελα!

















Έφυγε ο Μαντελα!

Αυτό ειναι γεγονός.
 

Νομπελίστας, για την Eιρήνη. 

Αγωνιστής για τα Δικαιώματα των Οροθετικών.

Αγωνιστής για την Ελευθερία της χώρας του.

Φυλακή για τις ιδέες του.
 

Έζησε μια γεμάτη ζωή με Δύσκολες, Δυνατές, Δυναμικές κ Όμορφες Στιγμές.
 

Πολλοί απο εμάς εμπνεύστηκαν απ τη φλόγα του.

Πολλοί στάθηκαν τυχεροί να τον γνωρίσουν.
 

Πολλοί στάθηκαν τυχεροί να τον ακούσουν να μιλάει απ το βήμα του ΟΗΕ για το Aids κ τις πολιτικές πρόληψης..
 

Τι να θυμηθεί κανείς.

Regional countries focus on anti-trafficking measures

26/11/2013

It is estimated that there are 21 million victims of human trafficking in the world, and the Balkan countries are joining forces to fight this crime. 
By Bojana Milovanović for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 26/11/13
photo

















It was a strange scene in downtown Belgrade: 

A teenaged girl sat in front of a shop with bruises on her face, her hands tied together. 

Another young girl stood next to her with tape over her mouth, holding a sign that said, "She can't ask for help." 

A third girl, dressed in doctor scrubs, "operated" on a mannequin, removing its heart.

The October event was staged to mark European Anti-Trafficking Day as part of the Red Cross Red Bell Campaign to raise awareness and educate the population about human trafficking.

Human trafficking in the Balkans is still prominent, but regional countries are working, both jointly and independently, to address the issue.

The Walk Free Foundation released its 2013 Global Slavery Index in October, which provides an estimate of the number of people in modern slavery in 162 countries. 

On the index, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Serbia shared 59th place, Croatia ranked 61st, Macedonia was ranked 80th and Montenegro was ranked 53rd. 

"The economic crises increased the number of victims of human trafficking in the region, that's a fact. There are more and more young girls looking for a well-paid jobs across the border of their country, and that is the main problem," 
Elena Krsmanović, a spokesman for Belgrade-based NGO Astra, told SETimes

A 2011 report by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said that when human trafficking emerged in the Balkans, the profile of the victims was determined by the presence of foreign soldiers and aid workers.
But the crime has changed in response to new socio-economic conditions, law enforcement strategies and political situations.

"Today, the typical victim of trafficking is often a citizen of the country where traffickers offer their services and is below the age of 18," the report said. 

The International Labour Organisation estimates that around the world there are about 21 million victims of forced labour, including sexual exploitation. 

Experts said police co-operation between the Balkan countries is necessary to stop trafficking in the region, both in the countries of transit and the countries of origin.

Mitar Djurašković, the co-ordinator of a regional anti-trafficking programme in the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, said that without the joint efforts of police, the number of trafficking victims in Southeast Europe would be greater. 

"We are constantly in touch with all the regional police centres. Our priorities include monitoring and control of the borders, as well as exchanging information on suspicious individuals and their activities," Djurašković told SETimes

photoTeenagers in Banja Luka mark European Day Against Human Trafficking on October 18th. [Mladen Dragojlovic/SETimes]

In September, the Balkans Against the Crime of Trafficking Now! agreement was signed by representatives of four organisations from Croatia, Serbia, BiH and Macedonia.

The aim of the partnership is to further develop national, regional and international co-operation, and to promote concrete measures, standards and mechanisms in tackling the issue of human trafficking. 

The partnership will also address downfalls in the countries' justice sectors, including the inefficient investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and the ineffective protection of victims in compliance with fundamental rights and EU standards. 

Rein Dekker, the national director of World Vision in Albania and Kosovo, said it is important to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts "through public awareness and reporting possibilities."

In October, Dekker launched a new smartphone app to provide faster reporting of human trafficking cases.

"Increasing response is what this project is about… multiplying the eyes of communities watching and responding," he said. 

"Today's technology gives us the opportunity to send information by pressing a 'reporting' button from your car, your home, your office and this is what this project will make possible."

Countries have also been acting nationally against human trafficking.

Sasa Rasic, the Kosovo co-ordinator against trafficking, said the government has taken concrete steps to increase the capacities of the institutions in order to be more efficient.

An EU-financed project in Kosovo called "Open eyes, be careful," gives children and other potential victims information in order to recognise signs of human trafficking, and who can help them. 

"The main intention is to have as few victims of trafficking as possible and to save as many lives of people as possible," Rasic said. 

Muedin Kahvedzi, state secretary at the Macedonian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, said officials in Skopje are working to implement an action plan to curb trafficking. 

photoAlbania Prime Minister Edi Rama (far right) and other officials attend an anti-trafficking conference in Tirana. [Linda Karadaku/SETimes]
"The ministry of labour and social policy will conduct special training for guardians of children who were victims of human trafficking, raise public awareness, economically empower vulnerable groups by facilitating the access to the labour market, and organise campaigns to reduce vulnerability, especially in young people," Kahvedzi said. 

Samir Rizvo, a co-ordinator for Sarajevo-based NGO Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, told SETimes that activities aimed to stop human trafficking in BiH are focused on three objectives: prevention, protection of victims and prosecution.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina is trying to find a solution to human trafficking, and has signed and ratified the relevant international conventions and protocols," Rizvo said. 

Croatia adopted a national plan to combat human trafficking for 2012 to 2015, which reinforces the co-operation between the state attorney's office and the ministry of interior, improving methods of identifying victims of trafficking and ensuring the best interests of victims.
"If one person ends up as a victim of human trafficking, it is too much," Croatia Minister of Social Policy and Youth Milanka Opacic said on October 18th, the 7th European Day Against Human Trafficking. 

The battle against human trafficking is not just limited to the Balkans. 
Europe's foreign ministers are expected to discuss a request from Italy for a Mediterranean-wide campaign against human trafficking.
"We suggest that all possible options of an EU-led common security and diplomatic policy operation against trafficking of human beings across the Mediterranean should be explored," 
Italian foreign and defence ministers, Emma Bonino and Mario Mauro, said in a recent letter. 

They said such an operation should aim "to discourage criminal organisations, to bring traffickers to justice" and should be staged in collaboration with coastal nations and international bodies.

Correspondents Ana Lovaković in Sarajevo, Kruno Kartus in Osijek, Linda Karadaku in Tirana and Marina Stojanoivska in Skopje contributed to this report.

This content was commissioned for SETimes.com.