Discrimination against Women Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic

Publish Year
2004
Publisher
Human Rights Watch
Description
The Dominican Republic is in the middle of a growing HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is spreading faster among women than men. In this context, many women face human rights violations on at least two major fronts: in the workplace and when they use government prenatal or other health care services. Women are at increased risk of HIV infection and there is increased incidence of HIV-related human rights violations in the workplace and the health care system for women. Based on interviews with women in the Dominican Republic, this report talks about how women in the Dominican Republic are routinely subjected to involuntary HIV testing, and those who test positive are fired and denied adequate healthcare. It also assesses the response of the government to these blatant violations of human rights. It examines the lack of adequate protection of the human rights of women living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic and the inadequate HIV counseling for positive women.