Despite the improvements in the legal and human rights spheres for people living with HIV and TB in Ukraine, they are still not protected and face stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations. The judiciary play a key role in creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for these vulnerable groups, and, thus, making a great difference in a joint fight to end HIV and TB epidemics in the country.
On 10 August UNDP and the National School of Judges of Ukraine conducted an online seminar for Ukrainian judges on issues related to protection of the HIV-positive persons’ rights and patients with others incurable infectious diseases and particularly on art. 130 and 132 of the Criminal code of Ukraine.

More than 60 participants discussed the issues of HIV and the law, such as needs of patients with HIV and TB and the current state of their access to health treatment, social life, justice, as well as problematic aspects of law enforcement, shared experiences and challenges, benefited from experts’ inputs and improved their understanding of measures needed to facilitate the recognition of the basic human rights of people with HIV and TB.

“UNDP is committed to supporting improvements in the enabling legal environment for PLHIV, people affected by TB, and key populations at risk,” said Dr. Rosemary Kumwenda, UNDP Regional Team Leader HIV Health and Development (HHD) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“An effective access to court can make justice and equality a reality for many people living with HIV and co-infections, which eventually results in better health outcomes for those affected and the society at large”, she emphasized.

In November 2018, UNDP launched the first national judge platform on HIV, tuberculosis and human rights in Ukraine, which saw the first open discussion of the role of judges in reducing the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV and TB in Ukraine. The Legal Environment dialogue held in Ukraine in 2018 and 2019 were followed up by the first and second Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Judges Forum on HIV, Human Rights, and the Law in Moldova (October 2019) and in Tajikistan (October 2020).