UKRAINE-UN-MINORITIES-LAW

Kyiv, August 18 (Interfax-Ukraine) – One of the main problems in Ukraine in the context of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis is the issue of the rights of minorities, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Olivier Adam has said.

In an interview with the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, the UN official said that in matters related to HIV/AIDS in Ukraine, drug users, homosexual men, as well as representatives of the sex industry fall victims to discrimination.

In particular, he said, there were attempts by law enforcement agencies to control the distribution of substitution therapy drug, and to criminalize the use of these drugs. “But in this case, drug addicts will go into the shadows, and we will lose access to them. Yet, the number of people who need substitution therapy is very large,” Adam said.

In addition, the UN is alarmed by three bills submitted to the Verkhovna Rada proposing a ban the advocacy of homosexuality. “We believe that this violates human rights,” he stressed.

“Unless we prevent the use of this “prevention system” for these three categories, we – the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and public authorities will be defeated in the fight against tuberculosis and prevention of HIV/AIDS,” UN Resident Coordinator has said.

At the same time, Adam noted that the situation in Ukraine in the fight against TB and prevention of HIV/AIDS has improved compared with that a few years ago, the number of people with TB and HIV/AIDS receiving treatment has significantly increased.

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15:37:31 EET-2