Critical issues arising from litigating HIV/AIDS discrimination in Nigeria

Abstract

The evolution of HIV/AIDS policy and legal frameworks in Nigeria has happened in distinct phases. The first period between 1986 when the first AIDS cases were reported and 1996 was uneventful and generally characterized by a distinct lack of appreciation of the spread and impact of the disease. During the following decade, notable achievements included the institutionalization of multisectoral responses at all levels of government and the introduction of national and sub-national policies and programmes. Comparable breakthroughs have been slow to occur in the legal environment despite evidence of widespread HIV/AIDS discrimination. This article analyses the legal mechanisms for addressing HIV/AIDS discrimination in Nigeria and argues that even with the emergence of HIV/AIDS-specific anti-discrimination legislation, the protection for persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS is far from being secured.