Human Rights Watch slams bill Uganda AIDS

Human Rights Watch criticized Friday in Uganda HIV / bill AIDS, some of whose provisions call for mandatory testing of pregnant women, sex offenders and victims, and disclosure of HIV status.

The New York-based group said the bill "promotes dangerous and discredited approaches to the AIDS epidemic.

HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill also requires that a person convicted of prostitution, drug use or possession of hypodermic needles being tested for HIV for purposes of criminal investigation.

Pregnant women and their partners "be subject" to the routine tests, but the law does not state whether consent is required.

Any person who fails to inform his sexual partner of their HIV status will be fined or imprisoned, and the bill criminalizes the intentional transmission of HIV.

HRW said it would be difficult or impossible to determine who infected who in a court of law and ignorance that makes the state itself for effective defense.

The group however, praised the terms of the latest version of the bill that protect against discrimination and violation of confidentiality.