A new program providing legal information about HIV and AIDS is now available to the general public of Quebec. Launched by le coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-SIDA), the HIV Info Rights program seeks to provide legal information about HIV/AIDS and the law to all citizens of Québec from their base in Montreal.

Stephanie Claivaz-Loranger, co-ordinator of the Human Rights and HIV Program at COCQ-SIDA, is in charge of setting up the new HIV Info Rights Service. She says the program is intended to provide information for people living with HIV/AIDS who have legal issues related to their HIV-status, anyone involved in COCQ-SIDA’s member organizations and anyone else in situations where the rights of someone living with HIV/AIDS is in question.

“The service was created for people with HIV, says Claivaz-Loranger, but we will also give information to any person who would be involved in a situation when the rights of someone with HIV might be concerned.”

“We are concerned with situations where the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS are jeopardized because of their HIV status.”

While the program does not offer official legal counsel, or representation in court, it does offer explanations and information about Canadian and Québec law related to HIV/AIDS, as well as accompaniment for persons dealing with employers, health professionals or government bodies, and referral to external sources if needed. The service is offered in both English and French.

Generally, when the program receives a call, they will take down all the necessary information from the caller, and then spend 1-2 weeks researching the necessary information before phoning the caller back with the results. The program also works to connect its clients with other, external, sources if necessary.

Claivaz-Loranger notes that although people with HIV/AIDS now live longer, more active lives, there is still fear and misinformation among the public about the disease. There are many areas where discrimination still occurs, such as the workplace and healthcare services.

“There is more of a need for this kind of service in order for people living with HIV and AIDS to live and exercise their rights like everyone else, she says.”

A similar program, le Comité des Personnes Atteintes du V.I.H (CPA-VIH) existed in Montreal until the spring of 2008. CPA-VIH offered HIV legal information and services on a smaller scale. When the program closed early last year, COCQ-SIDA began receiving calls from member organizations and community members looking for legal information. They decided to design another, larger program to meet the growing needs of their communities.

“We’ve noticed an increase in need for this information,” says Claivaz-Loranger.

The official launch of the HIV Info Rights program on Jan. 29 at Bar le Cocktail was received very positively by member-organizations of COCQ-SIDA and the community of Montreal alike. Claivaz-Loranger stresses that “The people who needed the legal information could still get it from our member organizations [during 2008] but now we have a chance to publicize our services and information.”

Although it is still early days, Claivaz-Loranger is confident that the program will continue to improve and work to meet the needs of their community. A new portion of the COCQ-SIDA website devoted to the program is under construction, and plans to create links with other provincial programs, such as HIV and AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO), are also underway.

To contact the HIV Info Rights Service, call 514-844-2477 ex. 34.

For more information about COCQ-SIDA, visit www.cocqsida.com or call 514-844-2498.