Not enough progress on the human rights aspects of the HIV epidemic – UN human rights chief

The following statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is issued on the occasion of World AIDS Day

GENEVA (1 December 2010) – Since the world first became aware of HIV/AIDS more than two decades ago, there has been considerable progress in terms of understanding, prevention and treatment of a disease that was initially viewed in apocalyptic terms.

There has also been some – but not nearly enough – progress on the human rights aspects of the HIV epidemic, and awareness raising with regard to the right of people living with HIV not to be discriminated against. *

This year’s UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic noted both positive and negative trends. On the positive side, HIV prevalence has either stabilized or decreased in 33 countries, including 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the report also highlighted an increase in HIV prevalence among injecting drug users, commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men. In Eastern European and Central Asian countries, the number of people living with HIV has almost tripled since 2000.

As these figures suggest, discrimination should not be treated as a side-bar to national and international responses to HIV: it is a central obstacle to containing the epidemic.

HIV thrives on prejudice. The stigmatization of people living with HIV is an active and continuing impediment to preventing the spread of the disease. Stigmatization, in both its blatant and subtle forms, acts as a significant disincentive to people all over the world from finding out their status and taking appropriate measures to protect themselves and others from HIV transmission.

On paper, the global effort to combat discrimination against people living with HIV is quite impressive: currently, 124 countries have laws protecting people living with HIV from discrimination, and 111 countries have laws or policies to protect vulnerable groups including women and children. However, the existence of a law means little if it is not properly implemented, which is unfortunately the case in many countries.

In addition, a sizeable number of countries still resist taking measures to reduce discrimination, thereby facilitating treatment and prevention: for example, 51 countries continue to impose HIV-specific restrictions on entry, stay and residence; 79 countries criminalize same-sex relationships; and 116 countries criminalize sex work.

Such punitive laws and policies fail to create an environment where people feel safe to access HIV prevention, treatment and care services and reinforce existing forms of prejudice.

Combating HIV and AIDS is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We cannot eradicate poverty without effectively responding to HIV and AIDS, and we cannot eradicate HIV and AIDS without addressing poverty. Similarly, we cannot reduce maternal and child mortality without addressing both poverty and HIV.

Because HIV thrives where injustice, poverty and disempowerment are widespread, at the MDGs Review Summit in September, I emphasized that human rights principles, such as equality, effective participation and inclusion, accountability and the rule of law, are essential for achieving the MDGs.

I am pleased that at the Review Summit, states committed to:

· Redouble their efforts to achieve universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services;

· Significantly intensify efforts to reduce the vulnerability of those individuals who are more likely to be infected with HIV, and promote and protect human rights;

· Develop and support strategies to address stigmatisation of, and discrimination against, people living with HIV, as well as to promote their social integration and participation in the HIV response.

I urge States live up to these commitments. Current pledges of US$ 11.7 billion to implement HIV-related services and projects fall far short of the US$ 20 billion required to effectively respond to the HIV epidemic. This runs contrary to the promise made during the MDGs Review Summit to provide ‘adequate funding’ for efforts to halt the HIV epidemic. It is important that the promised efforts to tackle discrimination do not falter.

(*) Subjects of a recent Consultation on HIV and Human Rights organized in Geneva by OHCHR. See: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/hiv/meetings.htm

ENDS

Ending discrimination against and stigmatisation of people living with HIV is part of the general fight against discrimination, which is the theme of this year’s Human Rights Day on 10 December. See: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/HRDay2010.aspx

Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx

Click here to visit OHCHR website: http://www.ohchr.org

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Media Unit
Rupert Colville, Spokesperson: + 41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org
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