HIV/AIDS Advocacy: Beyond Talk

It began like any other working day, usual office activities-writings, counselling and meetings. One of the meetings scheduled for the day was Human Rights Workgroup. As I walked into the meeting, I met some members of the Workgroup seated in a circular arrangement. Priscilla whose name I got to know later, walked into the meeting like every other person, all smiles, greeted people familiar to her and sat down. Unknown to me, she bore a back-breaking burden of HIV/AIDS discrimination.

Well, I did not pay special attention to her as I was relatively new to the group and was tasked with the responsibility of presenting a paper on ‘HIV/AIDS and Human Rights’. I was judged professional being a lawyer with LL.M in Human Rights (specializing in Reproductive and Sexual Health Rights), from a foreign university. To them, I had all the answers and I did not want to disappoint.

I took the presentation from the Constitution that guaranteed rights to dignity, and non discrimination, among others, to all Nigerians, irrespective of HIV/AIDS status. I discussed the then new HIV/AIDS antidiscrimination Law of Lagos State and cited case laws from South Africa which jurisprudence I was conversant with, where HIV/AIDS discrimination had been successfully litigated. I must have painted the picture of Nigeria being a haven for victims of human rights violation especially those living with HIV and affected by AIDS, due to the thunderous applause after the presentation. There were questions and answers from individuals representing various Non Governmental Organizations working in the area of HIV/AIDS. The impersonal questions were easy to answer, dwelling on the laws.

I further pledged on behalf of my organization, our willingness to take up cases for members discriminated on HIV/AIDS status, on a pro bono basis. Was this a mistake? Suddenly the unexpected happened, Priscilla asked whether I could make good my promise by taking up her case. It was as if I was hit by a trailer. My pro bono pledge on behalf of my organization had not been discussed though I strongly believed the office would not say no. Worse still, no case had gone to court on the HIV/AIDS anti discrimination Law. In fact, only a single case had ever gone to court on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, and that still at an appeal stage. Bottom line, neither I nor my directors in the office had handled such a case. It dawned on me that there were real victims of HIV/AIDS discrimination!

I could neither eat my words nor renege on my promise. I accepted the challenge, not knowing what the future held. All along, I considered myself a human rights advocate but that singular step would transform me into a person ‘affected by AIDS’ and was it a new experience? Thus my journey into the world of People Living with HIV/AIDS moved from paper work to reality, clothing me with a new lens and I saw things from a perspective I never knew existed.

As a lawyer litigating and speaking out against physical violence and the like was quite easy as they were things I had firsthand experience of but HIV/AIDS, was a totally new world. More so, it was highly stigmatized, as society moralized it and condemned victims.

A few days later, Priscilla was in my office to furnish me with necessary details to file a case in court against her siblings who discriminated against her due to her status. Her case was quite pathetic, a married woman whose only child tested HIV positive at a time when HIV was synonymous with SIN. She and her husband went for tests. She was positive while her husband tested negative, the man absconded. Sadly, the child died. Going back to her parents became her only option. Her father fully supported her unlike her siblings and other extended family members. Her polygamous family background did not help issues. Her father ensured she was ok and bequeathed a part of his property to enable her make the best out of life. But death did not allow him live for long. As soon as he died, her siblings stigmatized, disinherited and turned her world to hell on earth. She had no food, nowhere to lay her head and life became a double tragedy. Even if she accessed government’s provided ARVs, she needed proper food. Getting a job was also difficult as she lived open.

Priscilla’s belief in the Rule of Law and guts were infectious. The same condition that made others indulge in self pity strengthened her resolve to move on, with a vision of total emancipation of PLWHAS. I believed with her that equity would aid her. It was a baptism into real HIV/AIDS human rights advocacy, beyond talk. For the new Uju, it was justice or nothing, so to the court we headed! As a lawyer to HIV/AIDS discrimination victim, I was not spared the stigma but at this point I had gone beyond caring.

Nigeria has its systemic issues, courts are no exception. Her siblings were served with the processes, there were initial hitches. We crossed the hurdle and the case proceeded, we were optimistic and could feel justice coming our way. Midway into the case, the unforeseen occurred. She was in my office in November, in December she called me on phone to say ‘Barrister, I am sick and in the hospital’. Being out of state, I hoped and believed with her that she would pull through as usual. Unfortunately, the next news I heard was of her death. Was it painful? It was one of the few occasions I felt like suing death. Priscilla had gone from being my client, to become my sister and friend.

With her case in court, more people in the HIV/AIDS community began to open up. I was convinced people labeled what they did not understand thus the stigma. For us, People Living with HIV/AIDS were first and foremost human beings whose humanity was not in doubt. They are Nigerians whose human rights are guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution. Thus, we became very active in advocating for the rights of PLWHAs. Partnering with Priscilla in spreading the gospel of HOPE to PLWHAS, HIV/AIDS Support groups were formed and reached out to. We told them that ‘you are human beings with Human Rights; HIV/AIDS cannot take away your human rights so fight for your human rights’,

Death is a necessary end for everyone, but, Priscilla’s death was one death that could have been avoided at the time it happened if she was saved from the oppressive discrimination she suffered. Hers was a short but fruitful life of a good woman who never blamed anyone for her lot in life. Her death strengthened my resolve to do all within my power to stop similar occurrences, consequently I chose to celebrate rather than mourn her.

Years after her death, i have taken further unprecedented steps in the area of HIV/AIDS advocacy, writings and other involvements, still convinced that it is a human rights and not a moral issue. With the benefit of hindsight, taking up Priscilla’s case was not only doing the right thing but one of the best life-changing decisions, I made. Given the same opportunity, I will do same today.

There are many Priscillas in our world today; can they count on your support? Armed with the Law, kindly join me in the continued effort in spreading the gospel of HOPE to PLWHAS.