About our health at the United Nations
– Every 5 years, the member countries of the United Nations Council, which sits in Geneva, are examined during the Universal Periodic Review. Belgium’s turn has arrived. It’s this Wednesday 5 May.
On 15 October 2020, Ex Aequo submitted a report on three subjects concerning the health of men who have sex with men and people living with HIV as part of the Universal Periodic Review of Belgium at the United Nations. It takes place on Wednesday 5 May 2021.
This report, presented on behalf of a coalition of around one hundred Belgian LGBTQI+ and sexual health associations, calls for improvements in three specific topics:
- criminalization of HIV transmission and HIV non-disclosure
- blood donation by men who have sex with men
- extension of the HPV vaccination period and its free access as well as that of care associated with its infection (screening and treatment) for people living with HIV and for men who have sex with men
“It’s about our health!”
An advocacy sheet was sent to the various diplomatic missions. Several of them have expressed their interest in the recommendations presented. With variable geometry on different point, Ireland, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, but also South Africa, Canada, Portugal, Argentina, Israel and the Czech Republic provide their support.
With the exception of the non-criminalization of HIV transmission, the coalition’s recommendations were included in the summary of stakeholder submissions on Belgium published on 25 February 2021 by the Human Rights Council, but partially or incompletely.
Ex Aequo has produced videos that summarize the coalition’s recommendations to the Belgian government. Posted on Facebook and Instagram, they can be shared around you to spread the message.
Those videos are available on Facebook and Instagram because sharing is caring. You could find more details about those topics on Ex Aequo website.
Posted on 02.05.2021
Updated on 04.05.2020
