UN Dialogue to strengthen laws in the African continent’s fight against HIV

Pretoria, South Africa, August 4, 2011 – The United Nations has convened a consultative meeting in Pretoria for HIV experts, people living with the virus, civil society and government representatives to discuss key aspects of HIV and the law in Africa.


The Regional Dialogue, which is the sixth in a series of seven regional consultations globally, is being held to learn from individuals, communities, policy and law makers, judges and law enforcers. The dialogues are an opportunity affected by and vulnerable to HIV, including those whose voices are silenced by restrictive legal environments, to be heard.


Among the high profile delegates to the Dialogue, which was officially opened by South Africa’s Commissioner Simone Jiyane Deputy Director General in the Justice Department, are eleven of the Global Commissioners including Bience Gawanas (Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union).