All segments of society join hands for HIV/AIDS prevention
COLOMBO: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has praised Sri
Lanka’s contribution in prevention of HIV/ AIDS with the involvement of
all segments of the society joining hands for the prevention of HIV/AIDS
in workplaces. ILO expressed these views in a recently released press
statement.
“In June 2004, the Government of Sri Lanka endorsed the ILO Code of
Practice on HIV/AIDS in the World of Work. With technical support from
the ILO, fourteen enterprises from hotel, manufacture and estate sectors
have established HIV/AIDS policies and programmes.
They have formed HIV/AIDS committees, trained trainers and peer
educators, integrated HIV/AIDS education in their in-house training
programmes and reached the neighbouring communities through corporate
social responsibility initiatives,” the release mentions further stating
the commitment of Sri Lanka in taking the effort in HIV prevention in to
hand.
Accordingly, with the signing and implementing the National
Tripartite Declaration on Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Workplaces, Sri
Lanka has taken measures accordingly to prevent the spread of HIV in
workplaces, the release states.
The Declaration endorses the guidelines of the ILO Code of Practice.
By signing this Declaration, the relevant government ministries and
institutions, employers’ organizations and trade unions have committed
to ensure zero tolerance of stigma and discrimination associated with
HIV/AIDS, both in the public and private sectors.
These projects were jointly implemented by the ILO and the Ministry
of Labour Relations and Manpower (MOLR&MP) in 2005 May. Since then they
have identified that in Sri Lanka most of the HIV infected persons are
in the 30-39 age group, which is the most productive segment of the
population.
Accordingly the above mentioned projects were implemented with the
aim of reducing employment-related discrimination against persons living
with HIV/AIDS and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS among workers
through workplace policies & programmes, capacity building and
conducting awareness campaigns.
The ILO facilitated drafting a Joint Trade Union HIV/AIDS Policy,
which is being finalized. Further, the ILO is a key collaborating
partner in the establishment of the Sri Lanka Business Coalition on
HIV/AIDS.
This draft emphasizes the importance of strengthening HIV/AIDS
prevention efforts in the world of work by mobilizing the Government,
Employers’ and Workers’ organizations and private sector to play a key
role in this effort.
Strengthening HIV/AIDS policies and programmes in the world of work
has being included in the draft National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan. The
project has also built capacity of members of ‘Lanka plus’ - the
organisation representing people living with HIV/AIDS - in leadership
and communication/counselling skills and also plans to help them in
their income generating activities.
The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a sustainable national
programme on HIV/AIDS and the world of work.
“The world of work presents itself as an ideal place where concrete
measures towards attitudinal changes, value transformation and
disseminating information relating to HIV/AIDS can be successfully
undertaken,” says Ms. Tine Staermose, Director, ILO Office in Sri Lanka. |