The Act has being reviewed and validated by CSOs, the public and private sector, and most recently by the members of the Gambian National Assembly.

It was also forwarded to UNAIDS country and regional offices in Banjul and Dakar for their inputs.

The draft document placed a lot focus on gender and other cross-cutting issues such as poverty etc.

High risk groups such as sex-workers, long distance truck drivers and MSM were also catered for in the draft document.

A cabinet paper will be prepared and present to the Cabinet for their endorsement and finally sent to the National Assembly for promulgation.

A few cases are reported of MSM being arrested and charged but later on the charges where dropped. Sexworkers are frequently arrested and released but not really prosecuted.

These specific cases have no link with the individuals' HIV status.

UNAIDS is currently undertaking a study on the related stigma and discrimination and the finding of this study will help document the existence of the various form of stigma and discrimination manifested in the Gambia. This report will be shared once finalized. Also, UNAIDS is currently supporting the development of a model law on AIDS and this process is at an advanced stage.