UNAIDS: The First 10 Years

Chapter 9Stigma, human rights and the greater involvementof people living with HIV251Eradicating the stigma experienced by people living with HIV has been an essential partof UNAIDS’ strategy from its inception, but it is an uphill task in many countries. In boththe 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2007 Political Declaration onHIV/AIDS, governments committed themselves to taking action to address stigma anddiscrimination, recognizing that such a step is a ‘critical element in combating the globalHIV/AIDS pandemic’.However the stigma experienced by specifi c groups such as sex workers and injectingdrug users is such that these groups are still not named in the 2007 Political Declaration.There is sound, research-based evidence of the signifi cant amount of stigma experiencedby people living with HIV, with women experiencing it more than men and of the personalsuffering caused by stigma. Edwin Cameron, the South African judge who is HIV-positive,has written movingly that 14 ‘stigma is perhaps the greatest dread of those who live withAIDS and HIV… Stigma’s irrational force springs not only from the prejudiced, bigoted,fearful reactions others have to AIDS – it lies in the fears and self-loathing, the self-underminingand ultimately self-destroying inner sense of self-blame that all too many peoplewith AIDS or HIV experience themselves’.Involving positive people in work at all levels has been an important aspect of UNAIDS’ workto combat stigma, whether through supporting the establishment and work of networks ofpeople living with HIV or negotiating with governments to free positive people from jail.With UNAIDS’ support over six years, for example, the All-Ukrainian Network of PeopleLiving with HIV helped to found, in 2005, the Union of People Living with HIV in Eastern andCentral Europe. The network has united associations in 10 countries to mobilize resourcesfor underfinanced networks in the region. People living with HIV were supported in variousways; for example, a photo exhibition of positive people was organized, and this includedpictures of people who had not shared their status with the family before. The Ukrainiannetwork is very strong in its support for people who decide to ‘come out’ and in reachingout to those who don’t yet feel comfortable about doing so.However, in many countries there are no legal and policy frameworks for establishingnetworks of people living with HIV.Natashya Ong, a Singaporean woman living with HIV and a member of the ProgrammeCoordinating Board, welcomed the involvement of positive people but explained the14Cameron E (2005). Witness to AIDS. New York, I B Taurus.