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■■■work for the improvement of weak parts of the law and the system;help in empowering the victims by involving them actively in thecase; andhelp in advocacy and education.R.A. 8504 is far from perfect. But it could still be used as it stands now,and in the process be improved. Its insufficient and vague provisions canbe supplemented and/or made explicit, to the advantage of PLHIV, if theyare put to the test of actual litigation.If litigation and other redress mechanisms are to be considered, there aresome immediate and long-term steps which the PLHIV community needsto look into, among them:■ Development of organizational protocols for addressing HIV-relatedviolations■ Lobbying for the improvement of redress mechanisms, perhapsthrough the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC). Among theparticular targets for lobbying and advocacy are:❖ Legislators at the House of Representatives and the Senate –for the amendment of R.A. 8504 (such as strengthening itsconfidentiality measures)❖ PNAC itself – for improvement of the implementing rules andregulations of R.A. 8504❖ Supreme Court – for the issuance of special rules to governcases involving PLHIV❖ Department of Justice – for the issuance of improved guidelinesto govern the barangay justice system■ Strengthening, and possibly reorientation, of support groups forPLHIV so as to consider new areas like documentation, litigation,wider utilization of media, etc. in addition to current work ofcounselling and other services. In particular, paralegal skills wouldneed to be enhanced.■ Development or revival of networks with various partners, especiallyalternative law groups■ Mapping, sharing, and development of resources to further capabilitybuilding58 SEEKING REDRESS FOR HIV-RELATED VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS