The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday strongly reminded the public to actively work toward eliminating any stigma associated with the spread of the mpox virus.
“To effectively address public health concerns, it is crucial to remove any form of discrimination and bias in order to prevent further harm to affected individuals and communities. Our collective response should be rooted in the values of empathy, solidarity and respect for the dignity of every human being, particularly for vulnerable groups,” it said.
The reminder stemmed from the persistence of numerous online posts claiming that mpox is a sexually transmitted disease, which has led to the stigmatization of the LGBTQI community, it added.
While the World Health Organization has confirmed that close contact amongst individuals, including intimate encounters, is a viable mode of virus transmission, circulating public warnings that focus solely on sexually active individuals can create dangerous misconceptions, falsely suggesting that mpox is exclusively a sexually transmitted disease, it cited.
“The Commission stresses that mpox is not a disease of any particular gender identity, sexual orientation, or specific community, nor is it confined to specific activities. Such stigmatizing narratives deflect attention from the core public health concern and distort facts, which only perpetuates misinformation and fear. This results in discouraging people from seeking care through legitimate and safe health practices, thereby raising barriers to their fundamental right to health,” it cited.
Public health concerns should never be used to justify discrimination, it emphasized.
“In light of this, the CHR reiterates its call for the immediate passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill and the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill,” the Commission said.
“We must all be reminded that stigma is the root of inequality in communities. In this case, misleading information on mpox cases fuels fear and isolation, preventing affected individuals from seeking the help they need due to fear of being prejudiced, thereby undermining public health efforts and access to equitable health-care services. Health-related stigma is a significant barrier to the prevention of diseases, including treatment and care,” it added.
“An effective health-care system must not only provide accessible services but also communicate clearly and accurately about the nature of illnesses, empowering people with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and access necessary treatment. As enshrined in the right to health, individuals have the right to timely and accurate information that enables them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being without fear of judgment or discrimination based on their identities,” it said.
