The rights and obligations of HIV/AIDS sufferers and efforts required at various levels to fight the disease were made pubic in a regulation released yesterday.

The Regulation on AIDS Prevention and Control, issued by the State Council on January 18, is due to take effect from March 1.

According to the regulation:

? No employer or individual can discriminate against people with HIV/AIDS or their relatives. Their right to marriage, employment, medical care and education are protected by law.

? For instance, no organization or individual can disclose the names, addresses work places of people with HIV/AIDS, or their relatives, without permission.

? At the same time, victims should fulfil a few obligations, including informing their sexual partners and doctors and taking necessary measures to prevent from infecting others. They face civil or criminal charges if they fail to do so.

? Governments above the county-level must lead the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

? Governments above the county-level must provide free anti-HIV/AIDS drugs for rural AIDS patients and underprivileged urban patients, and offer free treatment and consultation on prevention of the mother-to-baby infection for pregnant women.

"I am pleased to see the final report, which constitutes a crucial part of the country's overall anti-AIDS strategy," Joel Rehnstrom, country co-ordinator of UNAIDS China office, told Xinhua News Agency.

According to latest estimates, China has 650,000 HIV/AIDS sufferers including 75,000 AIDS patients.