The House of Representatives has slated for second reading, a “Bill to Prohibit and Punish Discrimination against Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Housing, Employment, Social, Educational and Health Service and in all Forms of Social-Economic Life and other Connected Matters, 2008”.

The Bill is sponsored by Rep. Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas(AC / Lagos Island 1/Lagos State ).
In her lead debate, Ms. Okoya-Thomas said the “Bill seeks to affirm the commitment of this honourable House to enact and adopt the legislative measures to protect the human rights and dignity of HIV infected persons and persons living with AIDS”.

According to her, “because of the ignorance about HIV and prejudice, people living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination in all aspects of their lives, and this discrimination makes it even more difficult for the government to reduce the rate of HIV transmission in society.

She said the sponsors of the Bill “believe that the human rights and dignity of HIV-infected persons, including persons living with AIDS must be protected. Workers with HIV-infection who are healthy should be treated as any other workers, because this will enhance their physical and mental well-being.”

Referring to section 42 of the Constitution, she noted that it forbids “discrimination on grounds community affinity, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion. Nothing in this section expressly or by implication, forbids discrimination on grounds of health.”

The Bill was passed and referred to the House Joint- Committee on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.