You're reading: UN concerned about discrimination in prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine

One of the main problems in Ukraine in the context of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis is the issue of the rights of minorities, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Olivier Adam has said.

In an interview with the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, the UN
official said that in matters related to HIV/AIDS in Ukraine, drug
users, homosexual men, as well as representatives of the sex industry
fall victims to discrimination.

In particular, he said, there were attempts by law enforcement
agencies to control the distribution of substitution therapy drug, and
to criminalize the use of these drugs. “But in this case, drug addicts
will go into the shadows, and we will lose access to them. Yet, the
number of people who need substitution therapy is very large,” Adam
said.

In addition, the UN is alarmed by three bills submitted to the
Verkhovna Rada proposing a ban the advocacy of homosexuality. “We
believe that this violates human rights,” he stressed.

“Unless we prevent the use of this “prevention system” for these
three categories, we – the United Nations, non-governmental
organizations, the private sector and public authorities will be
defeated in the fight against tuberculosis and prevention of HIV/AIDS,”
UN Resident Coordinator has said.

At the same time, Adam noted that the situation in Ukraine in the
fight against TB and prevention of HIV/AIDS has improved compared with
that a few years ago, the number of people with TB and HIV/AIDS
receiving treatment has significantly increased.