Portugal praised by the ONU for granting temporary residence rights to immigrants
The Joint ONU Program on HIV/AIDS, Unaids, and the ONU Refugee Agency, UNHCR, praised Portugal’s decision to grant temporary residence rights to immigrants and asylum seekers.
The Portuguese government announced that it would apply the measure to people who applied for residence in the country before March 18, 2020, when the covid-19 state of emergency was announced.
These rights will give immigrants and asylum seekers access to social and health benefits, including access to the national health service, bank accounts and employment and rental contracts, until at least July 1, 2020.
Unaids recalls that Portugal has been a pioneer in human rights-based response to HIV since the beginning of the epidemic, passing inclusive laws, implementing progressive policies on drug use and making HIV treatment free for all.
According to the agency, “Portugal continues to lead, boosting models of community assistance and promoting better integration of health services”.
Obrigado, Portugal!
An outstanding example of solidarity by inclusion in times of shared distress. https://t.co/doV22FDLNK— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 29, 2020
