MOSCOW, December 27 (RAPSI) – The Russian government has submitted to the State Duma a draft law that would equalize condemned HIV-positives in rights with other convicts, the government announced Friday.

Currently, unaccompanied HIV-infected convicts can't leave a colony and women diagnosed with HIV are unable to send their children to children's homes.

According to the statement, the adoption of the federal law will lift a ban on unescorted movement outside the correctional institution and HIV-infected convicts' exit from the colonies to the extent regulated by the law.

This is not the first bill focused on the protection of the rights of HIV-infected persons. In April, Russia's Healthcare Ministry reportedly offered to allow individuals who are HIV or hepatitis positive to adopt children. According to the sponsors of the respective proposals, if someone is registered as HIV positive, this should not affect their potential to become an adoptive parent. Thanks to progress made in medical science over the last ten years, HIV positive individuals receiving proper medication are usually in good general health and only have to undergo routine treatment.