Discrimination and stigmatisation of PLHIV: RAS+ outlines the situation in Togo in 2023

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Extract from the article: On Tuesday 05 March, the Network of Associations of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Togo (RAS+) presented the 2023 annual report of the Human Rights and HIV Observatory. The report was presented at a workshop held at the SP/CNLS offices in Lomé. I

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On Tuesday 05 March, the Network of Associations of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Togo (RAS+) presented the 2023 annual report of the Human Rights and HIV Observatory. The report was presented at a workshop held at the SP/CNLS offices in Lomé. It was part of the celebrations for « Zero Discrimination Day », which is held every year on 1 March to draw the attention of governments to the importance of a world without discrimination. This year's theme is "Protecting health is protecting human rights". The event was opened by Yokbey Kantche, representing the Minister for Human Rights.

According to the annual report of the Observatory for Human Rights and HIV, 276 people living with HIV (PLHIV), 77% of whom are women, were victims of stigma or discrimination in Togo in 2023; 226 cases were referred and treated, and 165 cases were monitored. The report also shows that 57% of gender-based violence is sexual in nature.

To raise the awareness of all stakeholders and combat rights violations, RAS+ has educated 8,250 people on the issues of stigmatisation and discrimination of PLHIV, 95 local elected representatives and resource persons on advocacy activities and trained 365 health service providers and managers on the contribution of health facilities to the fight against these scourges.

A total of 35 radio programmes were produced to raise awareness and inform people about the impact of discrimination on the national response, self-stigmatisation, the legal provisions for combating the disease and treatment, among other topics.

According to Dr Amen Hlomewoo, RAS+ Coordinator, « the more we raise awareness, the more cases are reduced. Efforts have been made in terms of support, referral and follow-up for victims.However, challenges have been identified, including the under-documentation of cases of stigmatisation and discrimination, the need for resource people to support volunteers and survivors, the lack of volunteers to cover a wide range of pec sites, and access to justice for survivors of GBV.Stigmatisation is a fact of human behaviour and we need to step up awareness-raising activities and get more people in charge of facilities involved so that many people change their attitudes. »

The deputy coordinator of the SP/CNLS-IST, Damien Amoussou, stressed the importance of this report, which will enable those involved in the fight against HIV in Togo to take appropriate measures to further protect PLHIV in Togo.Eric Verschueren, UNAIDS Country Director, invited those involved to implement community-led monitoring. This monitoring will cover everything from reception to treatment, so that PLHIV can live fulfilling lives. This is an important asset in the response to HIV.

William O.