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NGOs lobby reps on HIV issues
Yamon Phu Thit
Myanmar Times
Volume 32, No. 629
June 4 - 10, 2012
SELF-HELP groups and non-government organisations working on HIV/AIDS have begun lobbying parliamentarians and political parties to raise issues relevant to their work in the hluttaws.
While many issues have been raised in national and regional parliaments since they first convened in early 2011, there has been almost no discussion of HIV/AIDs, members of the groups say.
“We can see that representatives from various political parties are discussing important issues in the hluttaw. But we also want them to pay attention to AIDS-related issues in our country,” said Ko Thiha Kyaing, chairman of Phoenix Association (Yangon).
“We should work together for our country to fight against problems caused by HIV and AIDS.”
The HIV/AIDS self-help groups met officials from more than 10 political parties – including the Union Solidarity and Development Party, National League for Democracy, National Democratic Force, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and Rakhine Nationalities Democratic Party – at a forum at Yangon’s Central Hotel on May 12 to lobby lawmakers about HIV/AIDS issues.
In particular, self-help groups and NGOs want parliamentarians to reform rules and regulations that hinder HIV prevention activities.
“There are some outdated laws in Myanmar that are preventing work on HIV treatment and care,” said Dr Kyaw Thu, director of Paung Ku, a civil society strengthening initiative.
Dr Myo Lwin, a spokesperson for the NGO Pyo Pin, said some outdated laws, such as one that allows police to charge people carrying condoms with prostitution, hindered harm reduction activities and led to increased HIV infection rates.
“Although we distributed condoms, [sex workers] dare not carry them,” he said at the May 12 forum.
“Another example is the distribution of syringes and needles to drug users. But this is technically illegal because the law states that only doctors and medical officials can have syringes and needles.”
He said it was important political parties took up these issues because the self-help groups and NGOs could not. “We need people who can make decisions on policies and rights for HIV cases and patients,” he said.
During the forum, U Tin Maung Oo, the Union Solidarity and Development Party Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Shwe Pyi Thar, said he would submit questions and proposals on HIV-related issues in the hluttaw and would seek to reform “unsuitable” rules and regulations. Representatives of other political parties also pledged to give greater attention to HIV/AIDS.
http://mmtimes.com/2012/news/629/news62910.html
