Women with HIV are one of the most discriminated groups in Tajikistan. The entire society, including their closest relatives, turns away from them; they can’t find work or get health care. Moreover, most often these women do not pose any risks to the health of others.

In honor of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and World AIDS Day, Asia Plus talks about the discrimination they face.

In Tajikistan, there is a whole list of various laws and documents that directly or indirectly protect people living with HIV from discrimination.

Last year, another law “On Equality and the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination” was added to this list. It introduced, to the satisfaction of human rights activists, the concept of “indirect discrimination”, which is most often faced by vulnerable groups in Tajikistan. However, women living with HIV, this important description in the law, are not reassured, because it is this group of the population that faces direct discrimination every day.

“Despite the fact that HIV is not transmitted through everyday contact, and modern AVR therapy (therapy that slows down the development of the virus and the disease – ed.) reduces the viral load to a minimum, a woman with HIV is discriminated against at every step,” says Takhmina Khaidarova , head of the Network of Women Living with HIV. – First of all, within the family

As soon as it turns out that she has a positive status, her relatives reduce contact with her and avoid her. Over time, this attitude will accompany her wherever her status is known.”

Oddly enough, notes Takhmina, women living with HIV often complain of discrimination on the part of medical workers: dentists, surgeons, obstetricians, and gynecologists. Doctors refuse to provide assistance to women with HIV and they have to look for friendly specialists through friends.

“At the same time, modern medicine has removed all risks: HIV today is the same chronic disease as diabetes. With adequate AVR therapy and medical care, women with HIV become mothers of healthy children, but even medical workers do not have up-to-date information on this matter, explains Takhmina Khaidarova.

Local journalists also discriminate against women with HIV. Content dedicated to women with HIV often contains derogatory language, the media broadcast stereotypes, stigma and prejudice, and do not explain to the audience what HIV is today.

“To this day, in the materials of local journalists there are such expressions as “HIV/AIDS is the plague of the 21st century,” “HIV terror” and other statements that have nothing to do with reality,” says Khaidarova.

Journalists often use intimidating language when covering cases of criminal charges (Article 125 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan – ed.) against women with HIV who allegedly knowingly infect men.

Source: Asia Plus TJ

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