7 March 2022, Banjul, The Gambia - The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Secretariat) wishes to inform the general public that the Committee on the rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV (Committee) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), will be organizing a Continental Conference on the Impact of COVID-19 on the rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV from 15 to 17 March 2022, in Saly, Senegal:
The Conference, which is part of the promotion mandate of the Commission, is being organized within the framework of Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) and funded by the European Union (EU) under the EU/AGA Support Project 2021-2023.
The Continental Conference on the Impact of COVID-19 on the rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV is organised to raise awareness and build knowledge on the importance of a human rights-based approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and its significance for the protection of HIV-related human rights. The Commission also seeks to draw out lessons learnt from the HIV response in order to contribute to ongoing conversations on building resilience against future pandemics and other global health and development challenges.
The specific objectives of the Conference are among others to:
- Disseminate and sensitize stakeholders on the existing legislations and soft laws of the Commission on the promotion and protection of the rights of PLHIV;
- Engage with relevant stakeholders including state and non-state entities on key human rights issues affecting access to healthcare services for PLHIV, especially within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Find a common ground and deliberate on ways and means to implement concrete strategies and programmes for the protection of the rights of PLHIV;
- Serve as a platform for researchers, policymakers and actors in the private sector to meet and have consensus on regional solidarity as an instrument to accelerating HIV/AIDS responses on the Continent and building resilience against future pandemics and other global health and development challenges.
The Conference will be attended by Hon. Commissioners Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie; Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga; and Maria Teresa Manuela.
The Conference will also be attended by Expert Members of the Committee, Representatives of Government Institutions; African Union Organs; National Human Rights Institutions; International Organizations; Non-Governmental Organizations; Academic Institutions, and Health Workers.
The Conference will be facilitated by Commissioners, Expert Members and staff of the Secretariat of the Commission.
For further information, please contact:
Secretariat, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Lay-out, Kombo North District Western Region.
PO Box 673
Banjul, The Gambia
Tel: 220 4410505/6
Fax: 220 4410504
E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org
