Namibia: HIV Keeps Locals Out of Foreign Universities

Via allAfrica.com, by Jana-Mari Smith

Banning HIV-positive Namibians from obtaining overseas scholarships is discriminatory, unconstitutional and a human rights violation. These, and other concerns, were raised by the AIDS Law Unit at the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) in a press statement yesterday.

The statement referred to recent newspaper advertisements by the Ministry of Education offering international scholarships, which stipulated that Namibians who are HIV positive do not qualify for the opportunity. The ban on HIV-positive applicants from taking up the education opportunities offered by countries such as China, Cuba and the Slovak Republic, among others, goes against the grain of Namibia's purported stance on equal opportunities for all.

One of the advertisements offers a Cuban medical scholarship to young Namibians from low-income families. The notice specifically requires a health certificate "acknowledging HIV-negative tests". A medical scholarship offered by China asks applicants to "undergo a thorough medical check-up, including HIV-AIDS tests". An official at the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) yesterday told a prospective applicant that neither China nor Cuba will accept HIV-positive applicants.

"These are their policies," he said, adding that these countries do not want foreigners to "go and multiply your HIV there". An official at the Directorate of Scholarships and Awards within the Ministry confirmed that an HIV-positive applicant does not stand a chance. "That is their requirement. You cannot go there if you are HIV positive". The press release from the LAC yesterday condemned the condition attached to the scholarship offers. The ostracising of HIV-positive individuals is "discriminatory and unconstitutional".

The LAC argues that the exclusion of HIV-positive students from educational opportunities "unreasonably discriminates against young people living with HIV-AIDS and excludes them from having the same kind of opportunities".

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[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Ten Years Fighting HIV/AIDS and Reaching Out to Gays

From IPS News, by Dalia Acosta

Raul Regueiro remembers every detail about the creation, 10 years ago in Cuba, of the project for the prevention of HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men, and the way the initiative crossed the boundaries of purely health-related concerns to address the question of social inclusion.

"Although homosexuality had been mentioned before, up to that point no work had been done with men," Regueiro told IPS. A co-founder of the project, Regueiro's idea is now applied in 14 provinces on the island and involves around 1,700 volunteer health outreach workers who act as direct links with Cuban communities.

"It was the first time the people most affected by HIV/AIDS participated in a programme that was focused on educating people and on other aspects as well," recalles Regueiro, who is now assistant to the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) programme to combat HIV in this Caribbean island nation.

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Homophobia Is the Problem, Not Gays - Havana Times.org

originally posted May 19 by Havana Times.org

Havana’s 23rd Street was a grand fiesta on Saturday as people of all ages and sexual orientations formed a winding conga line that extended to Pavilion Cuba, the place where Sexual Diversity Day was formally initiated. Havana Times was on the scene to listen to speakers, capture photos, and talk with several participants.

In her opening words, Sexual Education Center (CENESEX) director Mariela Castro Espin noted, “This it is not a gay pride march, that’s not our intention at this time. In reality, we’re identifying with a proposal made by a French activist to designate a World Day against Homophobia. Gays are not a problem, the problem is homophobia!”

CENESEX-supported by other institutions across the country-encouraged discussion and reflection within families about sexual diversity on Saturday the day before the World Day on May 17, said Mariela.

The aim was not to question the family structure that predominates in Cuban society, but to consider other forms, which people are less accustomed to, but are part of the country’s reality. Lesbians, gays, transsexuals and their families all had their chance to speak and exchange experiences-some bitter, others buoyant.

Thanks to educational campaigns such as this, the issue of homophobia is being addressed at some levels, though generally Cuban society continues to be homophobic.

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