CRI听力：Program To Strengthen Legislative Environment to Respond to HIV/AIDS in China

Today, Saturday, marks World AIDS day, and on Friday the details of a major program aimed at improving China's legal system's capacity to mount a successful, coordinated response to HIV/ AIDS country were revealed in Beijing.

The program is being jointly organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Committee of Education, Science, Culture and Public Health of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges.

Our reporter Li Gang has more.

Reporter: The three-year program is to increase the cross-sector leadership capacity of 500 provincial and local legislators across the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Zhejiang, Shandong and Hebei. It's to support a harmonized legal environment for a sustained and coordinated response to AIDS.

This new program will also review and provide recommendations for multi-sector laws and regulations relating to HIV and AIDS at the national level, and will assist in strengthening provincial legislation.

Li Honggui, a member of the Committee of Education, Science, Culture and Public Health of the NPC, addressed attendees at the signing ceremony.

"The launching and implementation of this program will help build an enabling legal and policy environment to combat HIV and AIDS. It will also enhance the implementation of legislation and policy at all levels."

Since 2006, China's national policy and legal environment has been strengthened through the enactment of two national policy initiatives, the Regulation on AIDS Prevention and Treatment and the National Action Plan for HIV/AIDS Containment, Prevention and Care in China.

Between 2003 and 2007, China invested 3.8 billion yuan, or 500 million US dollars, in free anti-virus treatments for HIV sufferers and provided financial support for their families.

Subinay Nandy, UNDP China Country Director said China has done an excellent job in developing policies and legislation to support AIDS response efforts at the national level, but more work remains in developing effective and timely local-level action.

"Despite all these achievements, there are still some discrepancies between sector regulations, between national and provincial laws, and between the new legislative environment and its practical application, especially at the local and community levels."

He added that joint efforts should be made to create an environment where the rights to HIV prevention, treatment and care for all people, are well protected under the law.

"We do hope, through our joint efforts, that the inconsistencies between regulations can be eliminated, and local commitment and leadership can be enhanced to form a coordinated effective response to the epidemic."

The program will also support policy impact studies to identify and address cross-sector issues and assist in creating and strengthening the legal environment to mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of AIDS.

Li Gang, CRI news.