Press Release
24 April 2006
UK Minister calls for respect for those living with HIV/AIDS and welcomes
tough stance on homophobia
Political, faith and community leaders in Jamaica should join forces and
campaign to change negative attitudes towards those living with HIV/AIDS, said
Gareth Thomas, UK Minister for International Development today.
Whilst in Kingston, Mr Thomas also paid tribute to those working in the
National AIDS Programme, NGOs and faith-based groups while meeting members from
the
 Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN+), a self support group of persons
living with HIV or AIDS.
Gareth Thomas said:
“The fight against prejudice and ignorance can be as important as the battle
against HIV/AIDS itself. Being made to feel like outcasts is stopping people
getting the help they need.
“The tragedy is that money and drugs are available but people are afraid to
come forward because they are more frightened by the popular reaction to
HIV/AIDS. The UK is working with faith-based groups, NGOs and the Government of
Jamaica to encourage people to hate the disease not those living with it.”
Experts now agree that stigma and discrimination is the driving force behind
the spread of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean. People living
with HIV and with AIDS are afraid to come forward for treatment and care,
because they face the indignities of alienation and ridicule.
Members of the Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN+) told Mr Thomas about
the stigma and discrimination they face every day and how it leaves them feeling
excluded from their communities and sometimes their own family.
Gareth Thomas added:
"In Jamaica HIV/AIDS is spread primarily through heterosexual sex but is
commonly and mistakenly viewed as a 'gay disease'.
“Within the Jamaican gay community homophobia is a key part of the spread of
HIV/AIDS, as the added discrimination against homosexuals discourages many from
seeking advice about prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. There are also
particular problems with some rap and reggae music which includes lyrics
inciting violence against gays”.
Mr Thomas also welcomed the stronger line being taken by the Jamaica
Constabulary Force against those who incite violence through music lyrics and
called on musicians to distance themselves from hate-filled songs.
He congratulated those faith and community leaders who are working to provide
practical help and friendship to those affected by HIV/AIDS. The Minister also
commended the good work being done by the National AIDS Programme and the
Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association, who are working with a UK Government
funded programme to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS in the travel and tourism
sector.
Note to Editors
1. Gareth Thomas is visiting Jamaica from 24-25 April.
2. The UK’s Department
for International Development (DFID) is working with the
Pan Caribbean
Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) in the Caribbean to reduce stigma and
discrimination. The programme started in November 2004, when Gareth Thomas
joined a wide range of senior political leaders, including St Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas, UN Special Envoy for HIV and AIDS Sir George
Alleyne, sports and cultural icons to establish, Champions for Change. This was
an opportunity for these leaders to engage directly with people living with HIV
and AIDS and find out at first hand how stigma and discrimination is a major
problem in the Caribbean and elsewhere. In November 2005, PANCAP and DFID once
more combined to stage, “Champions for Change II”, in Guyana, especially
designed to work closely with leaders of a wide range of faith-based
organisations throughout the Caribbean.
3. DFID recently announced its support
of the
“Accelerating Private Sector Responses to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean”, a
programme being piloted in the tourist resort areas of Barbados and Jamaica.
DFID has committed £2.5 million over 3 years to this initiative.
4. In Jamaica, DFID provides bilateral development assistance of £2.5 million annually and £5.5
million in annual debt relief under the Commonwealth Debt Initiative (CDI). The
UK also contributes an additional £3 million annually through its share of grant
funding and concessional lending of multilateral agencies, including a 12.7%
contribution to the EC development programme and our shareholding in the World
Bank.
5. For further information please contact the British High Commission
press office in Kingston on (876) 510-0700
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