HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects women and girls due to their low socio economic status and lesser agency on their sexuality and reproductive health. It is also a leading cause of death for women in reproductive age (WHO). The sexual and reproductive health of women living with HIV/AIDS is essential for her to lead a life of equality and is also critical to the well-being of their partners and children. A HIV positive women’s maternal health becomes even fragile as she become more prone to infections like malaria and tuberculosis.
For a HIV positive person the access to the health care and the system becomes even rugged. The health system is as it is unprepared to effectively provide treatment for HIV and has many gaps. Even above that the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV is a major roadblock in the access to health care. There have been numerous cases where a pregnant woman died due to denial of treatment because of their HIV status by both a public or private hospital. Such violations have even been recognised by the courts as the violation of their right to life and health.
Their status is made even vulnerable with the lack of access to contraceptives and proper counselling. There is also a rampant lack of HIV Testing Centres.The chances that a HIV positive person themselves approach the healthcare system are bleak. Still, post pregnancy there is no follow up with the woman and she falls out of the system. This even puts the new born at the risk.
A human rights based approach is essential in fighting the infection. The people at the implementing end as well the law needs to recognise the rights of an HIV positive person. Rather a HIV positive woman’s sexuality is more than often, suppressed. HIV positive people too have their sexual and reproductive rights, which the states are obliged to protect and uphold. The state is responsible for creating an environment where a positive person enjoys their right to dignity and equality.
Litigation
- Presentations from the Two Day Webinar on Reproductive Rights on 23rd & 24th of May, 2020
- Patna High Court: Ration facility for all transgender persons
- Nikhil Datar vs. Union of India: A long drawn struggle
- Patna High Court gives favourable order in response to the PIL on water logging in the state
- Guwahati High Court delivers landmark judgement; Department of Health and Family Welfare to pay Twenty Five Lakh Rupees to Petitioner in Nagaland
Fact Finding
- Presentations from the Two Day Webinar on Reproductive Rights on 23rd & 24th of May, 2020
- Report on the State level Consultation in Arunachal Pradesh on 2nd & 3rd November, 2019
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Dictionary
News
- Report of the two day webinar on ‘Access to Reproductive Justice’ on 23rd & 24th May, 2020
- Report of the National level consultation on Trans people and women’s issues- 28th & 29th December, 2019
- Nikhil Datar vs. Union of India: A long drawn struggle