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South African HIV/AIDS lobby group the National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) on Friday said it is now left with no option but to step up the pressure on the banks in the country, in protest over their alleged discrimination.
NAPWA members picketed outside the Banking Council of South Africa in Johannesburg after attempts to gain entry for a sit-in had failed.
"Our group media officer, Joe Manciya, was forcefully taken out of the building by security guards when he tried to negotiate with officials," NAPWA spokesman Thanduxolo Doro told the UN news service Plusnews.
"This behaviour confirms that the banking council has sanctioned the banks in South Africa to discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS," Doro said.
NAPWA said it had urged the government to pass a law that would force financial institutions to stop alleged discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions