Víctor Terrero: Approval of the Non-Discrimination Law is great challenge of 2019

Santo Domingo.- The executive director of the National Council for HIV and AIDS (CONAVIHSIDA), Dr. Víctor Terrero, said that the approval of the Draft of the General Law on Equality and Non-Discrimination is one of the significant challenges of the year 2109.

In an end-of-year message, the official referred to the need for a timely and adequate legal framework to end discriminatory actions and violations of human rights in all areas of society.

“This proposal,” he said, “is a decisive step to strengthen the rights of those who, for any condition, are subjected to some form of exclusion or discrimination and treated with prejudice.”

Terrero reiterated the government’s commitment to the issue of the human rights of the population, including the most vulnerable groups.

“The Dominican Republic, a nation that looks to the future, can no longer tolerate discriminatory practices to the detriment of populations and people for any condition, be it sexual, health, racial or any other type,” he said.

He explained that the formulation of the piece is based on article 39 of the Constitution, which establishes the equality of rights of all people, and meets a recommendation of the National Dialogue on HIV and Rights held in 2012, with the support of the Program of the United Nations for Development (UNDP).

The proposal of the General Law of Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination has 36 articles, oriented a great extent to preserve the rights of groups and populations that are considered vulnerable due to their condition.

“We are welcoming a mandate expressed in the Constitution of the Republic to eradicate all forms of discrimination,” they said.

The areas of application of the Law would be health, education, employment, political, trade union, business, professional and social or economic interest organizations, services and open public spaces, advertising, and media.

The piece was prepared by CONAVIHSIDA and civil society institutions, including networks of people with HIV.

Among other challenges, Víctor Terrero cited the reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, estimated at 6 percent of pregnant women with this condition, detection of new cases and strengthening of the Comprehensive Care Program for people living with this condition.