A LAWMAKER has warned government agencies against blacklisting or committing any highly discriminatory acts against persons who are infected with or suspected to be infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS.
LPGMA party-list Rep. Arnel Ty, member of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, underscored that the blacklisting of any person due to his or her actual or perceived condition as an AIDS sufferer is one of the discriminatory acts considered illegal and punishable by law.
Ty cited Section 37 of the AIDS Prevention and Control Act, which states that “The freedom of abode, lodging and travel of a person with HIV shall not be abridged. No person shall be quarantined, put in isolation, or refused lawful entry or deported from Philippine territory on account of his/her actual, perceived or suspected HIV status.”
“The penalties for “discriminatory acts” against persons with HIV status is up to four years in prison, plus a fine of P10,000,” Ty said.
Ty’s warning came shortly after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) temporarily barred a Filipino-Australian theater artist from re-entering the country, on suspicion he is suffering from AIDS.
Marcelino Cavestany complained that upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 6, he was shown a blacklist order, which specified that he should not be allowed entry “as he will spread HIV.
Ty authored a House resolution pushing for a review of the 1998 AIDS Prevention and Control Law to find new ways to reinforce the fight against the highly infectious disease, and improve the living conditions of sufferers.
The lawmaker from Isabela has also been pushing for increased public funding for preventive education, and the conduct of community outreach programs to encourage voluntary and discreet HIV testing. –LLANESCA T. PANTI, Manila Times
Short URL: http://www.manilatimes.net/?p=7366
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
