listen
“Their lives are in danger.”
Human Rights Group rings alarm bell for HIV Positive women held in prison for alleged
threat to public health
On April 29 2012, shortly before the Greek May 6 election, dozens of
women allegedly working illegally as sex workers were rounded up and taken into
custody by Greek police in Athens. Rapid HIV testing was performed on them by
Greek authorities at police stations where they were told they were being led
for identification purposes. They were subsequently diagnosed HIV positive and
were charged with “the intention of causing heavy bodily harm” while photographs
of 17 of them at first, were published on the official Greek police website.
The case has caused uproar both in Greece and internationally for what
human rights groups have called a clear violation of international laws for the
protection from the deprivation of one’s freedom, right to consent to medical
testing and medical confidentiality.
A team from the women’s organization Feministiki Protovoulia (Feminist
Initiative) and the Centre for Research and Action on Peace,
KEDE have visited the prisoners twice at Korydallos women’s prison in
Athens where they are currently being held. Protovoulia claims that there are
now 26 women held in the prison in relation to the case.
In a press conference held on Friday July 6 by Protovoulia, the group and several other human rights
groups in attendance, condemned the “inhumane and humiliating conditions” of the
women’s incarceration and raised
serious concerns over the conditions of their incarceration, their physical and
mental health, the nature of the legal case brought against them and the circumstances
of their arrest and subsequent medical testing by the Greek authorites.
Protovoulia has pledged its support to the women in any legal claim they
may wish to raise against the authorities
and individuals responsible for their ordeal.
