UNAIDS trains lawyers on protection of vulnerable persons

Why govt lawyers may go on strike 

THE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has begun a training programme for lawyers on the rights of persons with disabilities and key populations in the country. 

The Federal Government lawyers in the federal ministry of justice said they will embark on indefinitely strike soon if their welfare is not addressed. 

A statement issued in Abuja by UNAIDS said the training will enhance the participating lawyers’ capacity to defend individuals or groups whose human rights have been violated.

Thirty-two experienced lawyers from 23 States across the country are voluntarily participating in the training. They shall offer legal services, free of charge, to people living with HIV, persons with disabilities and key populations, without any discrimination.

This training, the first of its kind in Nigeria, aims to increase lawyers’ awareness and readiness to respond to the human rights, social as well as cultural context of each case involving any form of human right violations and violence against vulnerable populations. They will also be able to better handle, defend, document, and report such cases of violation.

The training was organised by the UNAIDS Nigeria and Lawyers Alert with the support of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Human Rights Commission, and will result in the establishment of a national network of lawyers that promotes empowerment of citizenry through knowledge of their rights.

The UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria and the UNAIDS Focal Point for ECOWAS, Dr. Bilali Camara said: “Upholding human rights for all is central to the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is the only way to create an environment of tolerance and justice for all, which will result in a fearless access to HIV/AIDS services by all and help Nigeria to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.”