Posts
China's first suit challenging HIV-related employment discrimination was heard in court on Wednesday. The suit was brought by a man who alleges that, after he had passed written tests and interviews, he was denied a teaching position because medical screening had revealed he is HIV-positive."We're quite optimistic about this case . because this is the first case related to HIV and guaranteeing employment rights," lawyer Li Fangping said. The plaintiff, a recent college graduate who is identified in the suit by an alias, is asking the education department to award him the position.
"If we lose the lawsuit, then the very authority of the Employment Promotion Law will be challenged because it contains a clear rule that (employers) cannot violate a person's employment rights because he or she carries a disease," the attorney said.
The education department had justified the decision to deny the position "with the interests of the students and public in mind," Li said. The suit was brought against the department in Anqing city in the eastern province of Anhui.
The case comes at a time when heavy HIV/AIDS stigma in China shows small signs of abating. There is still significant discrimination against HIV-positive residents in the country in the areas of employment, education, and health care, however.
The official count of those with HIV in China is about 740,000, though activists put the number at much more than that. UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe has estimated that some 50 million people in the country are at risk of HIV, mainly through unprotected sex or sharing needles.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
