27 October 2009
Poor communities in Mozambique are finding a dogged and determined advocate for their rights in the form of the local church.
This is illustrated by the progress that’s been made persuading the country’s government to understand and respond to the needs of those living with HIV.
Tearfund partner Rede Christa, which is Portuguese for Christ’s Network and is made up of Christian charities and agencies, was formed to mobilise the local church to speak out and act on HIV.
The statistics show why it was spurred on to do so; out of a population of 21 million, 1.5 million people in Mozambique are living with HIV, including 100,000 children aged under 14.
Natural disasters
Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest countries, ranked 168 out of 177 in the Human Development Index, with 54 per cent of the people living below the poverty line and 34 per cent of families are food insecure.
The country is no stranger to natural disasters, such as widespread flooding, which compound the poverty problem, particularly among those living with HIV.
In 2006, Rede Crista joined with a coalition of organisations to come up with a draft law setting out the rights of people living with HIV because prior to this there was no legislation that did so.
Through meetings, phone calls and letter writing, relationships were built-up with all departments of the Mozambique government that might be concerned about HIV, from health to labour, and gradually the need for a law change was accepted.
Petition
The resulting new legislation enshrines the rights of people living with HIV to health, livelihoods and food security, putting them on a par with everyone else rather than being ostracised or stigmatised.
Following the passing of this statute, Rede Crista has been making people living with HIV aware of it, educating them about their rights, how to claim them and how to petition the authorities.
Staff are also working with local churches to train them about the new law and how it applies at local levels.
This will enable churches to help people living with HIV claim their entitlements and to hold local authorities to account for providing them.