2024 Report on Human Rights Violations
- POZİTİF İZ
- 2 gün önce
- 4 dakikada okunur
PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV DEFEND EQUAL RIGHTS
Pozitif-iz Association has published its 2024 report on rights violations, drawing attention to the discrimination and rights violations faced by people living with HIV. The report highlights violations of health and labor rights while emphasizing that foreign nationals in Turkey continue to face barriers in accessing healthcare services.
Pozitif-iz Association emphasizes that everyone living with HIV has equal rights, and rights violations are not only an issue for individuals but also a structural problem affecting public health and social equality.
Since starting to report rights violations in 2018, these violations have more than tripled, occurring most frequently in the areas of health, labor, and personal data protection. Foreign nationals, in particular, continue to face serious discrimination and barriers in accessing healthcare.
In 2024, 1,140 people applied to the association for counseling, 230 cases of rights violations were identified, and 37 individuals initiated legal proceedings. These figures highlight the importance of defending equal rights for people living with HIV. The report demonstrates a growing awareness of rights, the preventive impact of counseling, and the critical role of civil society interventions. Pozitif-iz stresses that supporting people living with HIV through rights-based interventions and informed counseling is more crucial than ever.
Detailed Analysis of Applications
The 2024 report provides a detailed overview of the number of applications received by Pozitif-iz, the profiles of applicants, and the types of rights violations experienced. It also examines why violations persist despite patient rights legislation in Turkey covering people living with HIV, the barriers to seeking justice, and why people living with HIV find it difficult to take action against violations. Additionally, the report outlines the roles and potential solutions civil society organizations and the state can adopt in this process.
Every rights violation underscores the importance of the struggle for equal rights for people living with HIV.
Leading Areas of Rights Violations
In 2024, 40% of applications were related to health, and 24% to labor rights violations. Labor rights violations showed a significant increase compared to the previous year. Foreign nationals continue to face challenges with the General Health Insurance (GSS); medications and treatments excluded from reimbursement due to an HIV diagnosis create serious concerns for both individual and public health.
Classification Visual
Most violations involved multiple rights being infringed simultaneously, particularly regarding access to health and labor rights. Of the 37 individuals who pursued legal action: 54% were for health, 27% for labor, 8% for personal data protection and travel/accommodation, 6% for family and criminal law, and 3% for military regulations.
Geographic Distribution
Among the 230 rights violation applications received by Pozitif-iz in 2024, the highest numbers came from Istanbul (65 applications) and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (23 applications). İzmir and international applications followed with 17 each. Other applications included Sakarya (15), Mersin (12), Antalya (10), Ankara and Adana (8 each), Kocaeli (6), Kayseri (4). In the remaining 45 applications, the province was either not specified or reported from various provinces.
Legal Action and Awareness Growth
Significant changes were observed in legal action rates. In 2020, 21.4% of applications were taken to legal proceedings, dropping to 12.9% in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19. The rate fell to its lowest at 4.7% in 2023, then rose to 16.1% in 2024. This increase reflects a more than twofold rise in people engaging in legal action, despite fewer applications overall.
Pozitif-iz Association volunteer lawyer İsmail Cihan Tuğcu commented on the increase in applications for rights violations: “The increase in applications can be explained by both the increase in violations and the increased awareness of people living with HIV to seek their rights. The vast majority of applicants chose mechanisms that would protect their rights without filing a lawsuit. This demonstrates the critical importance of counseling provided by non-governmental organizations working in the field of HIV.”
Message to People Living with HIV
Pozitif-iz Founder Çiğdem Şimşek addressed people living with HIV: “Dear friends living with HIV, do not worry about whether you might experience a rights violation. Knowing and claiming your rights is crucial. Everyone living with HIV has equal rights, and defending these rights is your most natural right. When facing a violation, Pozitif-iz is always by your side with peer support and legal counseling. HIV is a manageable health condition; you have equal rights like everyone else.”
To access the full report: CLICK HERE
The Human Rights Violations Report - 2024 was prepared by Pozitif-iz Association's HIV experts, lawyer and designer on a completely voluntary basis, without any financial support.
Previous Years’ Reports on Rights Violations
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About Pozitif-iz Association
Pozitif-iz is a non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering individuals living with HIV and their families, enhancing their physical, mental, and social well-being. In line with this mission, Pozitif-iz provides essential support and counseling services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Pozitif-iz works to combat stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS by spreading accurate, up-to-date information on the topic.
In addition to addressing HIV as a matter of individual and public health, Pozitif-iz views it through the lens of human rights and conducts its activities accordingly. The founders of Pozitif-iz are dedicated activists with over 15 years of experience in the field of HIV and AIDS, having committed themselves fully to this mission. Its members and volunteers come from a diverse array of professional backgrounds.
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