Unlikely Vietnam Considers Same-Sex Marriage

By MARGIE MASON Associated Press

HANOI, Vietnam July 29, 2012 (AP)

Dinh Thi Hong Loan grasps her girlfriend's hand, and the two gaze into each other's love-struck eyes. Smiling, they talk about their upcoming wedding — how they'll exchange rings and toast the beginning of their lives together.

The lesbians' marriage ceremony in the Vietnamese capital won't be officially recognized, but that could soon change. Vietnam's Communist government is now considering whether to allow same-sex couples to marry or legally register and receive rights — positioning the country to be the first in Asia to do so.

"Our love for each other is real and nothing changes regardless of whether the law is passed or not," said Loan, 31. "But when it is passed, we will definitely go get registered. I can't wait!"

Even longtime gay-rights activists are stunned by the Justice Ministry's proposal to include same-sex couples in its overhaul of the country's marriage law. No one knows what form it will take or whether it will survive long enough to be debated before the National Assembly next year, but supporters say the fact that it's even being considered is a victory in a region where simply being gay can result in jail sentences or whippings with a rattan cane.

"I think everyone is surprised," said Vien Tanjung, an Indonesian gay-rights activist. "Even if it's not successful it's already making history. For me, personally, I think it's going to go through."

Vietnam seems an unlikely champion of gay-rights issues. It is routinely lambasted by the international community over its dismal human rights record, often locking up political dissidents who call for democracy or religious freedom. Up until just a few years ago, homosexuality was labeled as a "social evil" alongside drug addiction and prostitution.

Same sex co-living is considered in the revision of law on marriage and family.

On June 7, the Institute for Social, Economic and Environmental Studies (iSEE) announced that they welcome the addition of same sex relationship to the draft of amended Law on Marriage and Family, which supposedly will be presented to the National Assembly in the near future.

 

This is the first time same sex co-living is considered for the draft of the amended law since the 2000 Law on Marriage and Family (article 10, clause 5) which prohibits marriage between same sex couples.

According to the official correspondence sent by the Ministry of Justice to related ministries and offices, there are still many opposite views on same sex marriage. There are only more than 20 countries and territories that legalized same sex marriage.

Also according to Ministry of Justice, community of gay and lesbian tend to expand [in VN] and the demand for marriage or co-living increase. From individual freedom points of view, the rights for same sex marriage need to be acknowledged. However, due to the sensitivity of the topic and customs of Vietnamese people, it is too early to acknowledge same sex marriage in VN now.

However, according to the Ministry of Justice, regulations need to be supplemented to solve matters related to same sex co-living, such as properties and adopted children of same sex family and [these regulations need to be added] to the draft of amended Law on Marriage and Family.

TRIPS dan TRIPS Plus berdampak buruk pada akses atas obat

(Kanaga Raja - Jenewa) –Perjanjian hak atas kekayaan intelektual yang terkait perdagangan (TRIPS -Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) dan TRIPS Plus dalam perjanjian dagang bilateral (FTA -Free Trade Agreements) memiliki dampak buruk pada harga dan ketersediaan obat, dan mempersulit suatu negara untuk selaras dengan kewajiban menghormati, melindungi, dan memenuhi hak-hak kesehatan, demikian dikatakan Pelapor Khusus PBB (UN Special Rapporteur) untuk kesehatan, Mr. Anand Grover.   Demikian juga, ketiadaan kapasitas yang dibarengi dengan tekanan dari negara maju, membuat negara-negara berkembang dan miskin sulit menggunakan fleksibilitas TRIPS untuk mempromosikan akses pada obat. Karena itu, negara-negara perlu untuk mengambil langkah memfasilitasi penggunaan fleksibilitas TRIPS. Lebih jauh, negara-negara berkembang dan kurang berkembang (LDCs – least developed countries) seharusnya tidak menerapkan pengaturan TRIPS plus dalam hukum-hukum nasional mereka. Negara-maju juga seharusnya tidak mendorong negara berkembang dan LDCs untuk memasuki pertanjian TRIPS plus dalam FTA dan menyadari kebijakan-kebijakan yang mungkin dapat melanggar hak atas kesehatan.

Implementasi - Solusi TRIPs; Paragraf 6

Hampir tujuh tahun, ketika negara-negara anggota WTO sepakat untuk melonggarkan aturan di bidang perindungan hak atas kekayaan intelektual di bidang kesehatan. Dengan tujuan meningkatkan akses masyarakat atas obat. Namun, fasilitas tersebut hampir tidak digunakan. 12 Februari 2010 lalu, negara-negara anggota WTO melakukan pertemuan informal untuk mendiskusikan akses atas obat.

Di bawah peraturan TRIPS - WTO, lisensi wajib yang diatur dalam pasal 31 f terutama ditujukan untuk pasar domestik (nasional). Tetapi, Deklarasi Doha untuk Kesehatan Publik tahun 2001 (sering disebut sebagai “Solusi Paragraf 6”) memperbolehkan negara dengan kapasitas industri farmasi yang terbatas (atau tidak memiliki industri farmasi) untuk mengimpor dari negara lain. Solusi paragraf 6 tersebut juga memperbolehkan negara yang memiliki industri farmasi dan memproduksi obat dapat mengekspor obat-obatan dengan menggunakan lisensi wajib ke negara lain (yang tidak memiliki industri farmasi) jika memenuhi ketentuan yang berlaku.

Ketentuan dan syarat-syarat tersebut yang kemudian dirundingkan dan menghasilkan Keputusan 30 Agustus 2003 dan amandemen TRIPs pada tahun 2005 yang membuat keputusan pada 2003 menjadi permanen. Keputusan ini akan menjadi bagian perjanjian TRIPs jika 2/3 anggota meratifikasi amandemen tersebut. Telah ditentukan batas akhir pada 2007, tetapi General Council (Dewan Umum) memperpanjang sampai Desember 2009 dan kemudian menjadi 31 Desember 2011.

Sampai Februari 2010, telah terdapat 28 negara yang meratifikasi amandemen tahun 2005. Terbaru, adalah Nikaragua (25 Januari 2010) dan Pakistan (10 Februari 2010).