[afro-nets] Help with Angola Asylum case in the U.S.

[Marisa Howe <MCHowe@mintz.com>]

Help with Angola Asylum case in the U.S.
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I am an attorney in Boston, Massachusetts looking for an expert
who can talk about the atmosphere for HIV/AIDS patients in An-
gola on behalf of my pro bono client who is seeking political
asylum here in the U.S. Specifically, I am looking for someone
who could talk about the stigma in Angola surrounding people who
are known to have HIV/AIDS, as well as discrimination faced in
housing, employment, and health care because of one's HIV
status.

In my research I have come across press that indicates some peo-
ple in the Angolan government have been proactive about voicing
concern that there needs to be greater resources devoted to
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as a societal change
concerning how infected people are treated. However, I'd like to
know if this rhetoric is making much of an impact on the ground
level. My client (who last lived in Angola in 2001), reports
striking discrimination for people with HIV in terms of getting
fired, evicted, and not receiving adequate medical care. She
still corresponds with people in Angola who are living with HIV
and they do not report much change in the situation (for privacy
reasons, however, they do not want to talk about their experi-
ences to me; they are afraid others will find out their status
and they would lose their jobs/homes).

I'd appreciate any contacts and/or suggestions regarding organi-
zations and/or experts that I could talk to about my asylum
case, whether in the Boston area or elsewhere (nationally or in-
ternationally). If you think you can help me, please contact me
directly.

Thank you for your time.

Marisa Howe
Tel. +1-617-348-1761
mailto:mhowe@mintz.com