Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #3403 - Costing the epidemic | ||||
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Session: 9.6: Costing the epidemic (Symposium) on Wednesday @ 11.30-13.00 in 202 Chaired by Anne Cockroft, Alexander Pastoors Authors: Presenting Author: Professor Avrom Sherr - Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, United Kingdom |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, 2012 came into force on 1st April 2013 in England and Wales in respect of the changes to what had been called the best system of legal aid in the world. Welfarism is in retreat in England and elsewhere in the west where extreme poverty is receding. This is having effects on benefits and care, but also on access to justice. Groups withdrawn from assistance include people affected by HIV/AIDS who would previously have received public funds to assist in advice and information as well as access to the courts and tribunals for cases relating to discrimination, immigration, family issues, welfare benefits, employment, education, housing and others. Funding for agencies and law centres who might have been able to provide assistance without cost has also been withdrawn. Whilst health benefits may still remain for most, rights to other services or access to justice may be denied under these circumstances. Criminal defence still remains including for cases involving intentional spread of the disease, but the criminalising of intentional spread has stigmatised many, and there is little hope for general assistance in these areas. The “normalisation” of AIDS/HIV into a centralised system of assistance and care leaves it open to these general changes in support, whilst separate attention leaves those affected with the possibility of stigma and breach of confidence. This paper exposes the dichotomy and offers suggestion for a different approach to cuts in welfare. | ||||
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