Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 4:37 p.m.
Errachidia – An awareness workshop aimed at strengthening synergies in order to improve access to prevention and care services for vulnerable populations and people living with HIV/AIDS, was organized Tuesday in Errachidia, at the initiative of the Regional Human Rights Commission (CRDH) of Drâa-Tafilalet.
This workshop, which brought together representatives of the judicial authority and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, representatives of the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR), lawyers, health and social protection professionals and of civil society actors, was an opportunity to raise awareness among decision-makers about the nature and impact of the obstacles limiting access of key populations to AIDS prevention, screening and treatment services.
Organized in partnership with the association for the fight against AIDS (ALCS), and in coordination with the General Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Appeal of Errachidia and the Regional Directorate of Health and Social Protection, this awareness workshop made it possible to shed light on the social and regulatory obstacles linked to stigmatization and discrimination of vulnerable categories, thus hindering better access for these categories to essential services.
Speaking on this occasion, the president of the CRDH of Drâa-Tafilalet, Fatima Aarach, indicated that the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and its regional commissions work tirelessly to put an end to discrimination and stigmatization towards people living with HIV and those most at risk of infection.
In this sense, she recalled that the CNDH had participated in carrying out a study as part of the National Strategy for Human Rights and AIDS launched by the Ministry of Health, with the support of the Program Joint United Nations on HIV/AIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
This study made it possible to analyze the effects of laws and their execution in the fight against AIDS, in particular with regard to access to prevention, treatment, support and the fight against discrimination, but also to formulate recommendations and proposals likely to develop an appropriate legislative framework to combat AIDS.
For his part, the substitute for the King’s Attorney General at the Court of Appeal of Errachidia, Hicham Ait Elhaj indicated that this workshop would ensure better implementation of programs inherent to the fight against AIDS at the regional level. , and to strengthen the capacities and skills of actors and decision-makers involved in efforts to combat this disease.
He also highlighted the actions carried out by the Kingdom to combat AIDS, in particular the Integrated National Strategic Plan for the fight against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexually transmitted infections. (IST) and viral hepatitis 2024-2030 and the National Strategy for Human Rights and AIDS.
He added that strengthening the rule of law contributes to the promotion of human rights and the fight against all forms of discrimination and stigmatization against vulnerable categories.
He further recalled that the reform of the judicial system, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, aims to enshrine the principle of justice in the service of citizens and development, improve its performance and ensure better protection. rights and freedoms.
For her part, Ghizlane Azendour, advocacy officer – gender and human rights at ALCS, noted that the fight against AIDS requires the combination and mobilization of the efforts of all stakeholders, and not only those made by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
Despite the advances made in the treatment of this disease, however, many infected people do not benefit from appropriate care due to stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes which continue to dissuade these categories from resorting to appropriate treatments, she lamented.
Other speakers affirmed that Morocco has taken great steps in the fight against AIDS, while advocating for more training sessions focused on the fight against this disease, and the adoption of an approach multi-sectoral, integrating legal, public health and human rights considerations in the formulation of programs related to this disease.
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