Overview

JurisAIDS, an international 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, a new member of the Corporate Council on Africa as of September 2004, was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Washington D.C. The Executive Director is Ousmane Sane, an attorney and former judge of Senegal.

Learn more about JurisAIDS at www.jurisaids.com.

The mission of JurisAIDS is to protect the rights and freedoms of people living with HIV/AIDS and those persons vulnerable to infection, while engaging those interested parties to enact, strengthen, and enforce laws and regulations that will eliminate all forms of discrimination

JurisAIDS’ Legal and Ethical Capacity Incubator provides support and training programs on the legal and ethical aspects of HIV/AIDS. The program works in partnership with local law universities, bar associations, government ministries, private sector firms and organizations, NGOs, human rights and other community-based advocacy organizations to develop and support law clinics, seminars, training workshops and university-based curriculum

JurisAIDS aims to expedite the process of remedial action for people whose human rights have been violated. There are a number of discriminatory actions that allow for legal intervention. JurisAIDS works to eliminate this discrimination, which is one of the greatest hindrances to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS

Advocacy & Program Implementation:

“We are not here to study the problem, we are here to fix it”

As an advocacy group, JurisAIDS provides a voice for marginalized populations.  JurisAIDS legal clinics and HIV/AIDS support centers endow the community with an expedient, accessible, and affordable legal counsel as well as training and information. Strong legal systems help individuals overcome obstacles to their endeavors and their access to legally guaranteed human, political and civil rights.

JurisAIDS is an implementing organization currently with programs on the ground in several countries in Africa.

Legal Aid Center:

  • Provides Legal advice and litigation Services for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
  • Increases public awareness of the availability of legal rights and services for PLWHA

HIV/AIDS Legal and Ethical Leadership Center:

  • Adapt programs to the local culture and implementation in order to create the environment for the behavior change necessary for increased access to legal protection of PLWHA and those most at risk of infection

Parliamentarian Mobilization:

  • Strengthen the capacity of legislators by providing comprehensive training on policy formation
  • Reduce the levels of stigma and discrimination against PLWHA and vulnerable people
  • Provide a public outreach program to raise public awareness of HIV/AIDS legal and ethical issues among constituents

Community Mobilization:

  • Strengthen the local and national commitment to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and respect the rights of PLWHA
  • Reduce the stigma and discrimination by training and mobilizing local and national leaders in many sectors to provide the civil society with education about HIV/AIDS legal rights and ethical behavior

Empowerment of Women:

  • Address issues such as equal access to, and equal treatment under, the law as well as any program aspects undertaken by JurisAIDS aimed at rectifying existing inequalities.
  • JurisAIDS will provide comprehensive legal support (legal consulting and education) for women's organizations and will conduct, in concert with infected people, political, traditional and religious leaders, and members of civil society, religious leaders, and members of civil society, active campaigns for the application of the existing laws and/or the adoption of laws protecting the rights of women in order to reduce their vulnerability.

Orphans and Vulnerable Children:

  • Improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children by identifying their needs and protecting their rights through legislative reform and implementation of enforcement measures

HIV/AIDS Treatment Access:

  • Increase equitable and universal access to ARVs and ensure that vulnerable populations have access to treatment, care, and support through advocacy of anti-discrimination policies and law
  • Establish mechanisms that would enable people living with HIV/AIDS to challenge inequalities and discrimination in accessing HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support

Media and Awareness Campaigns:

  • Publicize and support community interventions
  • Provision of accurate information in order to keep the issue of HIV/AIDS on the social and political agenda

HIV/AIDS Workplace Education Program:

  • Use the workplace as point of intervention in the fight against AIDS by training and educating management, workers, workers families, and labor
  • Develop workplace policies and training in order that the employer can provide education and training, workplace practices, procedures, and ensure that employees who are exposed to HIV infection are provided with confidential, fair and equal treatment. Additionally, the rights and responsibilities of both supervisors and employees regarding HIV infection in a work environment are clearly defined

JurisAIDSnet –Creating a network:

  • Establish a local and international virtual and physical network of legal and non-legal professionals and organizations to share their experience and expertise
  • Expand understanding and support for protection of the legal and human rights of PLWHA

Partnerships:

JurisAIDS is dedicated to seek collaborative partnerships with organizations and entities whose members have an interest in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Proper implementation of local programs includes strengthen networks in order to develop their capacity to communicate regularly, implement new initiatives, take legal action, share resources, and expand both outreach and intake of our programs. JurisAIDS has many partnerships with organizations in Africa ranging from local NGOs and organizations to continent and worldwide organizations. The total members of the partners of JurisAIDS exceed 150,000 people.

  • Establish a local and internationalvirtual and physical network of legal and non-legal professionals and organizations to share their experience and expertise
  • Expand understanding and support for protection of the legal and human rights of PLWHA.

To learn more about JurisAIDS, please call (202) 626-0561 or go to www.jurisaids.org

JurisAIDS is located at 717 D Street NW Washington DC 20004 
CCA's HIV/AIDS Initiative
 


1100 17th Street, N.W., Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 835-1115 Fax: (202) 835-1117 E-mail: cca@africacncl.org