(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown)     NO credible attempts could be made in the area of HIV prevention, in the absence of a clear identification of the groups which were most vulnerable to infection and to the spreading of the disease.

This was the view of Barbados Acting Prime Minister, Honourable Freundel Stuart, as he delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of a two-day symposium on “HIV and Human Rights in the Caribbean ,” which began on Monday at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus.

Citing sex workers, the youth and persons in penal institutions, Stuart noted that these groups must be targeted for better outcomes.

“The state can best approach the discharge of this remit by, as a matter of policy, effectively regulating places frequented, occupied or used by these groups, once they have been identified. For example, places like brothels where sex workers ply their trade. In this way, the health of those who provide sexual services and those who purchase those services will be properly and professionally taken care of,” Stuart stated.

“An important target group also is the youth of the region, who are becoming sexually active at even younger ages. These must be encouraged to pay greater attention to health care, especially since thoughtless experimentation is more likely among members of this group,” he added.

“There is also the question of our corrections facilities and penal institutions, where HIV transmission requires urgent and carefully planned intervention and management, ” the Acting PM further stated.

Mr Stuart, however, acknowledged that steps taken in the area of treatment of HIV and AIDS had been bearing fruit and his government was committed to continued pursuit of this path. In the area of care and support, he said, every opportunity to build upon the progress being made, would be exploited to the fullest. Stuart also expressed the view that with the passage of time, a better understanding of HIV and AIDS would lead to a more sympathetic treatment of those suffering with these illnesses.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Acting Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau who asserted that the UWI had stood tall in the fight against AIDS and had also provided an environment in which the equality of both men and women was respected.

“The University is committed to providing an environment in which the equality of men and women is respected, where neither sexist behaviour nor gender-based discrimination is countenanced, and in which proactive attention is given to protecting all students from coercive sex. The university also recognises its responsibility to provide its female and male students and staff with such gender-sensitive programmes. This is to ensure that they are aware not only of the rights and vulnerabilities of others, but that they are also aware of the HIV and AIDS-related implications of sexual abuse and violence, which affect women predominantly,” she said.

Professor Barriteau said it was the university’s intention to access appropriate medical and other therapy for any of our members who were subjected to sexual violence.

“I can assure you that the university will accept no barriers to women or men being able to obtain protection against the spread of HIV, including condoms or educational materials,” she said.

Professor Barriteau added that the university understood how vital education was in the fight against AIDS. “We believe education offers a very successful set of strategies for confronting, containing and eventually overcoming the discriminations that erode the human rights of persons living with HIV and AIDS.”

The goal of the symposium is to sensitise policy makers and the judiciary through production of material from the meeting that speaks to the issue of HIV and human rights and make recommendations on guidelines to deal with situations arising from the issue.

It is expected that the symposium will result in the sensitization of the judiciary and senior policy makers to the issue of HIV and Human Rights in the context of the Caribbean experience and a reduction of stigma and discrimination against to persons living with HIV (PLWH). The symposium will also put forward a recommendation of strategies for regional governments to move the human rights agenda forward in relation (PLWH).