A young gentleman, the son of a police officer, perished while on the sidelines of the southern insurrection. He applied for the job and passed the exam to observe in his father’s feet and serve the country.
Another person had a young dream that led to world go and had been given the opportunity to work. He applied to work as a flight attendant at the age of 27 and passed the test.
These two young men, along with countless others living with HIV ( PLHIV ), saw their dreams shattered as a result of their blood test results.
While Thailand has advanced in HIV care and successfully treated the majority of sufferers, it also failed to protect those living with the virus from discrimination in the workplace.
Every year on December 10, the global community observes Human Rights Day.
The Bangkok Post sat with some PLHIVs whose right were being violated as well as with human rights organizations trying to protect them as part of the festivities to indicate the time.
Passive accents of the violated
Supattra Nakapew, a director of Thailand Human Rights Commission, said the committee had received 32 requests claiming prejudice against PLHIV in work, in both the public and private businesses, in the past three decades.
She claimed that when candidates are required to pass an HIV test during the hiring process, bias frequently occurs.
The committee then reached out to companies to let them know that HIV testing violated their rights when applying for jobs.
Affiliated hospitals were also made aware of the violation and urged to collaborate with the Disease Control Department, which instructed them never to conduct HIV testing before hiring.
She claimed that some organizations had partnered and changed their discriminatory policies.
But, Ms. Supattra said that the prejudice against PLHIV still exists in Thailand during the work process shows that social attitudes toward HIV/Aids have remained constant.
Despite advanced HIV treatment and medications that stop the disease and allow them to survive a long and healthy life, she said, people still think that PLHIV are physically weak and can quickly spread the disease.
She argued that the Public Health Ministry should result in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and other rights-based medications.
They” may discuss the subject on a societal level as well as a medical level,” she said.
The Labour Ministry published an news calling on companies to help PLHIV to advance in their careers and certainly apply HIV position to determine work qualifications.
Nevertheless, she noted that some state organizations continue to undercut PLHIV when hiring.
She cited rules from the Royal Thai Police that “prohibited characteristics of becoming authorities officers.”
Aids and HIV infection are included among the prohibited diseases, ailments and features.
She claimed that some healthy PLHIV were unable to pursue their ideal career due to these rules.
Ms. Philin claimed that some individuals passed all needs but failed health testing as a result of their HIV-positive blood test results.
Some of them lost in the legal challenge by bringing the case before the operational court.
“PLHIV can be as strong and healthy as individuals and work with as much productivity”, she said.
” Rejection lowers their self-esteem]and into ] thinking their value is determined only by their blood, not their performance.
” It even affects the market and happiness, “added Ms Philin.
Philin: Prospects fail wellness checks
Effective energy from the condition
According to the Human Rights Commission’s Ms. Supattra, PLHIV are among the most susceptible members of society, and they need laws to protect them.
Five anti-discrimination payments have been drafted by civil society companies, the Prachachart, Pentham and Pheu Thai events, and the Justice Ministry, she said.
On November 6, 2023, the Cabinet Secretariat held a hearing among different organizations after the Justice Ministry’s draft was presented to the case for consideration.
But, the Council of State Office saw the bill as” unwanted” and overlapping with the responsibility of the Thailand National Human Rights Commission, she said.
The document was returned to the Justice Ministry by the Cabinet Secretariat Office.
The ministry made the decision to publish this review to the cabinet before the end of the year following two governmental meetings, the most recent of which was held on December 4.
It is anticipated that the other four drafts will enable the case because any bills that are proposed to the cabinet require that the government draft also be taken into account.
Thailand should be concerned about this act because it complies with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for reducing inequality.
” If a nation has discrimination, social cracks widen and more individuals are unable to get social benefits and enjoy the rights they deserve”, she added.
The authorities should understand the significance of this bill because Thailand has been chosen to join the UN Human Rights Council for the 2025-2028 term, which may advance Thailand’s human rights protection.
” It does take some time to remove the stigma against PLHIV because it’s inside person’s heads, but the act of prejudice had been stopped then,” said Ms Supattra.
Ms. Supattra advised anyone who wants to anonymously contact the 1377 Hotline or to write a complaint to the payment using the website if they wish to.
Supattra: Social belief constant