19 May 2010:
BONELA Commends NACA on Inclusion of Sexual Minorities at Conference
The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) highly commends the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) on its inclusion of organizations working on sexual minority issues at the ongoing second National HIV/AIDS/STI and other Related Infectious Diseases Research Conference (NHASORC).
Speaking on behalf of BONELA, Felistus Motimedi the Prevention and Research Initiative for Sexual Minorities (PRISM) Coordinator said: “It is the hope of BONELA that the inclusion of sexual minorities will extend to meaningful engagement with this community in a pragmatic manner that will ultimately result in the recognition of their needs by health care providers.” She added that this development is a reflection that NACA has realized that BONELA’s concerns regarding sexual minorities is one of the issues that need to be dealt with to reach the 2016 goal of zero new infections.
The Director of BONELA, Mr.Uyapo Ndadi added: “We hope that this admission by NACA will result in them spearheading change of the law to be enabling and accommodative to all possible interventions that would be inclusive of everyone irrespective of their sexual orientation.
Ndadi added that BONELA is delighted at the progressiveness of the Mmegi has also joined in the campaign calling for laws that are non-discriminatory to all, consistent with the principles of democracy.
BONELA takes this opportunity to wish the new Coordinator of NACA Mr. Matlhare, well in his new position and that he will remain steadfast in facing these contentious issues head-on.