These are other recommendations from Human Rights Watch report entitled 'Hated to Death: Homophobia, Violence and Jamaica's HIV/AIDS Epidemic'. The report was launched in Kingston on Tuesday.
Government officials at all levels should use public events and contacts with the media to condemn police violence against HIV/AIDS workers; should affirm international standards relating to quality, including non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV status. They should reiterate the importance of human rights protection for all groups vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
Cease and publicly repudiate all violence and harassment by police and other agents of the state against men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women, sex workers and people living with HIV/AIDS.
Train all criminal justice officials in international human rights standards and non-discrimination, including issues of sexuality, sexual orientation and HIV/AIDS. Ensure that police at all levels are trained on the fundamentals of HIV transmission and care for people living with HIV/AIDS and on the importance of the life saving efforts of HIV/AIDS outreach workers.
Establish an effective and independent oversight and complaint mechanism to ensure the proper implementation of health policies and norms relating to HIV/AIDS, including protection of confidential and private information. Investigate and sanction all health personnel who disclose confidential information without authorisation.
LAW REFORM
Invite international scrutiny of protection against torture and ill treatment by among other items:
Including information on the treatment of HIV/AIDS workers and members of high risk groups (men who have sex with men, sex workers) in future periodic reports to human rights treaty bodies established for the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Repeal sections 76, 77 and 79 of the Offences against the Person Act, which criminalise sex between consenting adult men and are used as justification for harassment of men who have sex with men and HIV/AIDS educators working with them.
Repeal Section 80 of the Offences Against the Person Act and section four of the Town and Communities Act.
The report is available at http://hrw.org/reports/2004/
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