Discrimination Protection for Partners

posted: 28/11/2008

Help push for the 2009 Equality Bill to protect partners, family and friends of people living with HIV from discrimination.

Over the last few years the laws protecting people living with HIV from prejudice and discrimination have greatly improved. However, a small loophole in current legislation means that the friends, family and carers of those same people can be discriminated against because others believe they might have HIV. In July the European Court of Justice made a landmark ruling that it is unlawful to discriminate against someone because they care for or associate with someone with a disability.

This effectively means that friends, family, partners and carers of people living with HIV are now protected from harassment and discrimination on the grounds of their loved-one's HIV status.

The Equality Bill which come before parliament in 2009 will need to properly recognise the ruling and its principles by including provisions to prevent "associative discrimination" in the Equality Bill when it comes before Parliament next year.

More details here

You can help push for this change by contacting your MP through Terrence Higgins Trust - very quick and easy to do here