CHRAJ urges stakeholder collaboration, intensified public campaign

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has urged for heightened collaboration among stakeholders and an intensified public campaign to combat HIV and AIDS in Ghana. Speaking at a two-day training held in Abesim near Sunyani, Deputy Commissioner Mrs Mercy Larbi emphasized the urgent need to break down the barriers of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS.

The workshop, organized by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in partnership with CHRAJ, UNAIDS, and the Global Fund, aimed to address these issues across various sectors including legal, traditional, law enforcement, education, and civil society. Mrs Larbi expressed concern over the growing stigma and discrimination faced by Persons Living with HIV (PLWH), stating that these barriers hindered access to healthcare, social services, and justice.

She stressed that public education was crucial in dispelling misconceptions and myths surrounding HIV. Larbi highlighted that while CHRAJ and GAC were making efforts, they could not do it alone and called for the support of the public. The Stigma and Discrimination Reporting System, run by CHRAJ, was presented as a vital platform for reporting abuses and seeking redress, and the public was encouraged to utilize this system.

Regional Technical Coordinator for the GAC, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim Bambilla, noted the strengthening of the commission's partnership with the civil society in the regions, but acknowledged the need for public support in the fight against HIV in Ghana.