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EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES AGAINST HIV/AIDS PLACE HUMAN AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS AT CENTRE OF ALL EFFORTS, SAYS RIGHTS COMMISSIONER
08 March 2004
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8 March 2004
Following is a statement on International Women’s Day to be delivered today by acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan at a noontime meeting of women Ambassadors in Geneva:
Madam Ambassadors,
On this year’s International Women’s Day, we focus on the theme of women and HIV/AIDS.
As the Secretary-General has said in his message for today’s commemoration, women are increasingly bearing the burden of the epidemic. He has noted that it is inequality that puts women at greater risk. As the Secretary-General states, where women are widely subject to sexual violence, prevention strategies that rely on abstinence, fidelity and condom-use are unlikely to work.
We know that strategies place human rights at the centre of all efforts are effective, because human rights are closely linked with the fight against HIV/AIDS. A lack of respect for human rights favours the spread of the disease and worsens its impact. At the same time, the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS undermines progress in the realization of human rights. The link between human rights and HIV/AIDs is evidenced by the disproportionate incidence of HIV/AIDS among certain groups including in many countries women and girls, and particularly those living in poverty.
So, what is the link between HIV/AIDS, gender and human rights?
Discrimination based on sex hinders women’s and girls’ ability to protect themselves from the factors that may lead to HIV infection and to respond to the consequences of HIV infection for themselves and their families.
The vulnerability of women and girls to HIV and AIDS is compounded by other human rights problems including
· lack of adequate access to information, education and services necessary to ensure sexual health;
· sexual violence;
· harmful traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and children (such as female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage); and
· lack of legal capacity and equality in family matters generally but including inheritance, divorce and custody.
Lack of access to employment leads to economic dependence. HIV/AIDS responses must address equality and non-discrimination in areas such as education, political rights, marriage and family, property, employment, health and protection from violence.
At the same time, stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS reinforces other prejudices, discrimination and inequalities related to gender, poverty, and sexuality. The result is that women affected by HIV and AIDS may be reluctant to contact health and social services. Those most in need of information, education and counselling may thus not benefit even where these services are available. This, in turn, contributes to the vulnerability of others to infection.
How can human rights help to address the impact on women of HIV/AIDS?
States’ obligations in relation to equality and non-discrimination - and to the promotion and protection of all human rights - are defined in the international human rights treaties, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, now accepted by 175 States. Regional and national courts, as well as national human rights institutions have proven to be important in ensuring the implementation of women’s human rights and fighting the epidemic. The UN human rights mechanisms (including the human rights treaty bodies and special procedures established by the Commission) provide a framework to highlight the need for improved respect and protection for human rights of women in the context of the epidemic.
Equality and non-discrimination are vital, not only to HIV/AIDS prevention, but also to ensuring equitable access to care, treatment and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The UN General Assembly Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS of June 2001 placed human rights at the heart of the international response to the epidemic and set goals and targets based on human rights law in a number of key areas. It stressed the need for national strategies that lead to the empowerment of women and increase the capacity of women and girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection.
What should a gender-sensitive human rights strategy against HIV/AIDS include?
The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights outline how human rights standards apply in the context of HIV/AIDS and suggest legislative and other practical measures to be undertaken at the national level. In line with the Guidelines, a gender-sensitive human rights strategy against HIV/AIDS should include:
· Combating stigma and discrimination in relation to gender, poverty and HIV/AIDS.
· Devoting particular attention to promoting equal rights to legal capacity and equality within the family, in particular in matters such as inheritance, divorce, child custody, property and employment rights.
· Combating sexual and economic exploitation of women and girls.
· Promoting the right of women to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health by:
o ensuring access to accurate and comprehensible information related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment
o empowering women to make decisions in relation to their sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, violence and discrimination
o promoting access to HIV/AIDS-related treatment, care and support, including the provision of essential drugs
o ensuring accessibility of voluntary, confidential HIV-counseling and testing services
o implementing strategies to prevent HIV infection among pregnant women; to prevent HIV transmission from HIV-infected women to their infants; and to provide care, treatment and support to HIV-infected women, their infants and families.
In Conclusion
UNAIDS has launched a Global Coalition on Women and AIDS to ensure that the empowerment of women is at the centre of the response, and to build on the critical role that women already play in the fight against HIV/AIDS worldwide. Today, we renew our pledge ensure progress in the promotion and protection of the human rights of women. Greater attention to human rights is essential for effective strategies to prevent and address the consequences of this epidemic. Ensuring that greater resources are dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS and involving women fully and equally in such efforts is urgently needed if we are to be able to improve respect for human rights and in particular for those of women and girls.
I salute your efforts and hope we can together help to combat HIV/AIDS and the human rights violations that make women particularly vulnerable to the epidemic !
Following is a statement on International Women’s Day to be delivered today by acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan at a noontime meeting of women Ambassadors in Geneva:
Madam Ambassadors,
On this year’s International Women’s Day, we focus on the theme of women and HIV/AIDS.
As the Secretary-General has said in his message for today’s commemoration, women are increasingly bearing the burden of the epidemic. He has noted that it is inequality that puts women at greater risk. As the Secretary-General states, where women are widely subject to sexual violence, prevention strategies that rely on abstinence, fidelity and condom-use are unlikely to work.
We know that strategies place human rights at the centre of all efforts are effective, because human rights are closely linked with the fight against HIV/AIDS. A lack of respect for human rights favours the spread of the disease and worsens its impact. At the same time, the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS undermines progress in the realization of human rights. The link between human rights and HIV/AIDs is evidenced by the disproportionate incidence of HIV/AIDS among certain groups including in many countries women and girls, and particularly those living in poverty.
So, what is the link between HIV/AIDS, gender and human rights?
Discrimination based on sex hinders women’s and girls’ ability to protect themselves from the factors that may lead to HIV infection and to respond to the consequences of HIV infection for themselves and their families.
The vulnerability of women and girls to HIV and AIDS is compounded by other human rights problems including
· lack of adequate access to information, education and services necessary to ensure sexual health;
· sexual violence;
· harmful traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and children (such as female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage); and
· lack of legal capacity and equality in family matters generally but including inheritance, divorce and custody.
Lack of access to employment leads to economic dependence. HIV/AIDS responses must address equality and non-discrimination in areas such as education, political rights, marriage and family, property, employment, health and protection from violence.
At the same time, stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS reinforces other prejudices, discrimination and inequalities related to gender, poverty, and sexuality. The result is that women affected by HIV and AIDS may be reluctant to contact health and social services. Those most in need of information, education and counselling may thus not benefit even where these services are available. This, in turn, contributes to the vulnerability of others to infection.
How can human rights help to address the impact on women of HIV/AIDS?
States’ obligations in relation to equality and non-discrimination - and to the promotion and protection of all human rights - are defined in the international human rights treaties, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, now accepted by 175 States. Regional and national courts, as well as national human rights institutions have proven to be important in ensuring the implementation of women’s human rights and fighting the epidemic. The UN human rights mechanisms (including the human rights treaty bodies and special procedures established by the Commission) provide a framework to highlight the need for improved respect and protection for human rights of women in the context of the epidemic.
Equality and non-discrimination are vital, not only to HIV/AIDS prevention, but also to ensuring equitable access to care, treatment and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The UN General Assembly Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS of June 2001 placed human rights at the heart of the international response to the epidemic and set goals and targets based on human rights law in a number of key areas. It stressed the need for national strategies that lead to the empowerment of women and increase the capacity of women and girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection.
What should a gender-sensitive human rights strategy against HIV/AIDS include?
The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights outline how human rights standards apply in the context of HIV/AIDS and suggest legislative and other practical measures to be undertaken at the national level. In line with the Guidelines, a gender-sensitive human rights strategy against HIV/AIDS should include:
· Combating stigma and discrimination in relation to gender, poverty and HIV/AIDS.
· Devoting particular attention to promoting equal rights to legal capacity and equality within the family, in particular in matters such as inheritance, divorce, child custody, property and employment rights.
· Combating sexual and economic exploitation of women and girls.
· Promoting the right of women to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health by:
o ensuring access to accurate and comprehensible information related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment
o empowering women to make decisions in relation to their sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, violence and discrimination
o promoting access to HIV/AIDS-related treatment, care and support, including the provision of essential drugs
o ensuring accessibility of voluntary, confidential HIV-counseling and testing services
o implementing strategies to prevent HIV infection among pregnant women; to prevent HIV transmission from HIV-infected women to their infants; and to provide care, treatment and support to HIV-infected women, their infants and families.
In Conclusion
UNAIDS has launched a Global Coalition on Women and AIDS to ensure that the empowerment of women is at the centre of the response, and to build on the critical role that women already play in the fight against HIV/AIDS worldwide. Today, we renew our pledge ensure progress in the promotion and protection of the human rights of women. Greater attention to human rights is essential for effective strategies to prevent and address the consequences of this epidemic. Ensuring that greater resources are dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS and involving women fully and equally in such efforts is urgently needed if we are to be able to improve respect for human rights and in particular for those of women and girls.
I salute your efforts and hope we can together help to combat HIV/AIDS and the human rights violations that make women particularly vulnerable to the epidemic !