10 Reasons Why Legal Services Must be Central to a Rights-Based Response to HIV
By: International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
10 reasons why legal services must be central to a rights-based response to HIV
- Because informing people of their rights, while failing to provide ways to realize them, can be counterproductive and increase the burden on affected communities.
- Because law reform is a long-term goal, while legal services can improve peoples’ lives right now.
- Because taking legal action empowers individuals by affirming their right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
- Because lawyers and paralegals can use a range of legal and non-legal tools to solve problems, including working with traditional legal systems and community leaders.
- Because legal action requires all parties to state their case in an open, structured forum. Many issues such as discrimination in employment and health care are complex.
- Because legal services can also provide data on complaints and outcomes which can improve law and policy reforms.
- Because engaging the legal profession and the courts in resolving HIV-related issues and disputes strengthens the rule of law and good governance more generally
- Because legal services can be delivered in multiple ways, including by engaging law students, peer counselors, and by using paralegals and other community educators for referral.
- Because the integration of HIV-related legal issues into existing access to justice and legal aid programs mainstreams the response to HIV for long term sustainability.
- Because legal challenges combined with social mobilization can achieve policy reform and educate communities in ways which can have a huge impact nationally, and even globally.