URGENT ACTIONS

CASES

Action Case Nepal - HIV/AIDS affected women and right to food

OPEN LETTERS

HIV/AIDS is widespread in Accham in Far Western Nepal. The disease is usually contracted by male migrant workers who travel to India - a common practice, as many people own little or no land on which to grow food. Employment opportunities in the local area are scarce.

Once affected by the disease many families are compelled to sell land and other assets in order to afford medication and food. This has pushed many households further into hunger and malnutrition. Widows are left with the responsibility of feeding their families without income, land or employment opportunities. Being HIV-infected themselves, they have to struggle with physical weakness and social stigma. They often are rejected from their extended family circle and deprived of their right to property.

Nutritious food and health care is vital to the effective treatment of HIV/AIDS. Yet those affected have limited capacity to either earn money to purchase food or to produce enough for selfsufficiency.

The State of Nepal is obliged to fulfil the right to food of all its citizens, through means including social security programs.

FIAN Nepal has supported local organizations in the development of programs that aim to educate and 'sensitize' affected communities about the right to food and the special requirements of HIV/AIDS sufferers. One outcome has been the formation of a 'struggle committee'.

Meanwhile, in response to pressure from FIAN and supporters, the local government of Accham has approved a district-level policy establishing an HIV/AIDS Victim Food Support Fund, which has provided affected single women 100 Nepalese Rupees (1 Euro) per month since 2010.

Although the amount is far from sufficient, the initiative has encouraged affected groups in neighboring districts to advocate for a similar policy and has triggered lobbying towards the adoption of such a policy at the national level.