Summary:

Campaigners in Tanzania have criticised some schools for making HIV-positive pupils wear a red ribbon on their uniforms.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17380941

The headmaster of one school told the BBC it was done at the parents' request to ensure that all sickly pupils do not do tasks that may affect their health.

But such stigmatisation was against the law, punishable by up to three years in jail, a campaign group warned.

The health minister has said he cannot comment until it is investigated.

According to UNAids, about 5% of the population - 1.4m people - in the East African nation are living with HIV.

'Confidential'

The BBC's Aboubakar Famau in the main city of Dar es Salaam says activists have reacted with horror to the labelling of pupils in the Kibaha district.

They believe at least seven schools in the area, about 40km (25 miles) north-west of Dar es Salaam, are using the ribbon system.

"They are only doing that because they want to identify those who are HIV-positive," said Jane Tibihita, a co-ordinator of Upendo Partnership, a local campaign group.

• Read the full story
• Visit CRIN's page on Tanzania

Previous Members news items

• 14/03/2012: UPR: New NGO report deadlines for 14th session announced
• 13/03/2012: IRAN: States call for prohibition of juvenile executions
• 13/03/2012: NORTH KOREA: UN Expert expresses concern at significant deterioration in human rights record
• 13/03/2012: MYANMAR: UN Expert presents report to Human Rights Council
• 13/03/2012: LIBYA: Council holds dialogue with Commission of Inquiry

Organisation Contact Details:

BBC

Last updated 15/03/2012 17:24:26

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.