Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 09:41 Written by Alizia Kamani Monday, 12 December 2011 16:08

Challenges for Parliaments – Parliamentary Events at the XVIII International Aids Conference in Vienna, July 2010

by Brigitta M. Gadient, MP, Switzerland

During the XVIII International Aids Conference in Vienna, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliament of Austria were hosting a meeting of Parliamentarians. The theme of the event was legislative aspects of HIV relating to key affected populations. The Conference brought together a group of high-level participants and speakers including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture as well as advisers from Unaids and Unicef.

The key objectives of the meeting were to examine weaknesses in the current legislative systems and identify reforms that might contribute to a more robust and forceful HIV response. The discussion focussed on two principal questions: How can the right balance be struck between criminal law and public health in the field of HIV and Aids so that both can function as effectively as possible? And how can you respect fundamental human rights - liberty, security of person, privacy, health and freedom from discrimination - when setting up effective prevention programs for mother-to child transmission of the virus?

Of special interest were controversial topics such as the application of criminal law to sexual behaviour and drug use with the aim of reinforcing the role of Parliament in ensuring that rights in the HIV context are protected effectively.

A second parliamentary event took place at the Conference under the title “Providing leadership on Critical HIV/AIDS Issues: An Appeal by and to Members of Parliament”. The severe stigma attached to HIV is often more difficult to live with than the disease itself. A number of Parliamentary initiatives have attempted to address the needs of orphans and other children made vulnerable by AIDS. But parliamentary leadership and action for other vulnerable populations and on controversial issues remain rare. The session highlighted examples of leadership by members of Parliament on such issues and discussed barriers to such leadership and how they can be overcome. It concluded with an appeal for more, and sustained, leadership by members of Parliament.

How can Parliamentarians and AWEPA help? What should be done? The vice-president of IPU made it clear in his closing statement: “It needs just three letters to say it all: S M L! The S stands for Stigma, and all of us have the task to fight against it; the M is for Money meaning that Parliaments all over the world have to secure the necessary funding; and the L is for Leadership which we all have the responsibility to assume.”

Therefore, AWEPA, because of its special relationship and links to the gravely affected African continent as well as links to most European Parliaments has important, necessary and urgent work to do-work that cannot wait!