Dionne Rose, Parliamentary Reporter

Nicholson (left) and Johnson (right)

PROFESSOR PETER Figueroa, vice-chairman of the National AIDS Committee wants laws on the books that criminalise prostitution and homosexual acts to be repealed.

Dr. Figueroa made the recommendation while addressing the Joint Select Committee of Parliament considering the proposed Charter of Rights bill in Gordon House on Wednesday.

"Criminal law prohibiting sexual acts including adultery, sodomy, fornication and commercial sexual encounters between consenting adults in private should be reviewed with the aim of repeal," he said.

INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES

Professor Figueroa was presenting documents from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS, which he said embodied international best practices in relation to HIV/AIDS and human rights.

"In any event they should not be allowed to impede provision of HIV/AIDS prevention and care services, " he said.

Professor Figueroa is also lobbying for criminal laws to be reviewed to allow for the regulation of occupational health and safety conditions to protect sex workers and their clients.

Turning to the penal institutions, Professor Figueroa said prison authorities should take all necessary measures including staffing and appropriate disciplinary measures to protect prisoners from rape and sexual violence and coercion.

In response to the request, committee member Dr. TrevorMunroe asked Professor Figueroa to give examples of countries, which have repealed laws criminalising against these set of people.

"I do not accept that the Constitution should leave a loop hole despite majority opinion in the country at this time to discriminate against any class of Jamaicans," he said.

DEFIANT

But committee member Senator Johnson was defiant. "I am not interested in getting that information," he said.

Although chairman of the committee, Senator A.J. Nicholson pointed out that Senator Johnson needed to exercise some tolerance in listening to the views of others, he would not hear any of it.

"Ah said ah not interested! I am not being intolerant, but I am just saving the gentleman the trouble he might have in getting that information," he said.

Committee member Mike Henry also raised concerns as to why this particular area of health is being singled out for protection under the proposed bill and said this could send the wrong signal that they were legitimising actions which he said related to the individual's responsibility and to the state.

But Professor Figueroa explained that the disease was an epidemic, which he said is associated with stigma and discrimination.