At ILO confab on HIV prevention, treatment and care:

Legal instrument to have universal access

by Quintus PERERA

Governments, employers and workers meeting at the annual conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted a new international labour standard on HIV and AIDS- the first international human rights instrument to focus specifically on the issue in the world of work.

The new standard was issued by the ILO Head Quarters in Geneva, according to a dispatch issued by the ILO Colombo Office.

The new standard was adopted by a vote of 439 to 4, with 11 abstentions by delegates to the International Labour Conference, following two years of intense and constructive debate.

This is the first internationally sanctioned legal instrument aimed at strengthening the contribution of the world of work to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and contains provisions on potentially life-saving prevention programmes and anti-discrimination measures at national and workplace levels. It also emphasizes the importance of employment and income-generating activities for workers and people living with HIV, particularly in terms of continuing treatment.

The dispatch indicated that the Conference also adopted resolution on its promotion on its promotion and implementation that invites the ILO Governing Body to allocate greater resources to give effect to the new standard, requesting that a Global Action Plan be established to achieve its widespread implementation and regular reporting from ILO member States.

Dr. Sophia Kisting, Director, ILO Programme on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work said that with this new human rights instrument they can harness the strength of the world of work and optimize workplace interventions to significantly improve access to prevention, treatment, care and support. The cannot do it alone but this standard will, he believes, provide a major contribution to making the dream of an AIDS-free generation a reality.

According to the dispatch Ms. Thembi Nene-Shezi (South Africa), who chaired the debates on the standard in the HIV and AIDS Committee, said that they have an instrument that should be a source of pride for the ILO and its constituents. They have no time to waste however. They must move forward and promote the standard. The engagement of those that have given birth to it - the governments, employers and workers - will be crucial to the development of national workplace policies anchored in human rights and directed at overcoming discrimination.

The employer Vice Chair of the HIV and AIDS Committee, Patrick Obath (Kenya) said that the standard brings everybody onto the same page and ups the ante in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The important thing now is to implement national workplace policies that support what some employers are already doing and that the whole national response is taken up a level.

The worker Vice Chair of the HIV and AIDS Committee, Jan Sithole (Swaziland) said that they are proud to have in hand an unprecedented international instrument to deal with HIV and AIDS through the workplace. As long as they do not have a cure they have no choice but to use the content of this instrument at every level of society.

The dispatch indicated that the new standard is in the form of a Recommendation, one of two types of labour standards the ILO can adopt. While distinct from a Convention in that it does not require ratification, under Article 19 of the ILO Constitution, a recommendation must still be communicated to national parliaments and discussed in terms of how it might be implemented through national policies and legislation. The Recommendation augments the existing ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work adopted in 2001.

As is the case with the majority of ILO standards, its content was subject to two rounds of discussion at the ILO Conference in 2009 and 2010. During this year's discussion the draft text of the standard received amendments that strengthened its provisions in a number of areas including gender equality, reproductive health and rights, social protection, occupational health and safety, and measures to address vulnerable and marginalized groups such as transiting and migrant workers. It also covers armed forces and uniformed services.

Dr Kisting said that the Recommendation will not only be an important instrument to guide the work of the ILO and its constituents but will also enhances coordination in the international AIDS community. With strong provisions on prevention and social protection, the Recommendation will reinforce ILO's work in support of the UNAIDS ten priority areas", added Dr. Kisting.

Courtesy: Asian Tribune