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The Way orwardResponses havenot addressed theroot causes ofstigmatisingattitudes ordiscriminatorypractices and,therefore, havelimitedeffectiveness.root causes of stigmatising attitudes ordiscriminatory practices and, therefore,have limited effectiveness.The gap in useful data on stigma anddiscrimination is now being recognisedas a serious problem. A UNAIDS researchstudy on HIV-related stigma anddiscrimination in India and Uganda notedthat “relatively little systematic researchhas taken place on the forms thatHIV/AIDS related stigmatisation anddiscrimination take, the different contextsin which they occur and their varyingdeterminants”. 5 Current interventions,initiated largely by NGOs, tackle stigmaand discrimination by applying thehuman rights standards as outlined byvarious human rights mechanisms. They,however, require benchmarks for actionso that progress can be monitored moresystematically. 6Besides, by focusing on the humanrights approach, many stigma anddiscrimination-related initiatives lose thepriority of the two main public healtheffects:l stigma results in denial, leading toinaccurate disease surveillance,severely restricting the ability toassess and plan health needsappropriately; andl stigma and discrimination decreasethe access to treatment andcounselling services. 7In order to effectively tackle the problem,simple research methods are needed thatwill provide precise and measurable dataabout the levels of stigma anddiscrimination and the underlyingcomponents (e.g. fear, moral judgementetc.) that inform them, as well as thecorrelations and linkages between thesecomponents. Such a disaggregated anddetailed understanding of both thelevels and operation of stigma anddiscrimination would allow thedevelopment of tailored, effectivesensitisation programmes.The key elements of successfulprogrammes tackling stigma anddiscrimination are 8l analysing of the causes and effects ofstigma and discrimination;l communication and education aimedat changing attitudes and behaviour,not just imparting knowledge;l establishing a more equitable policycontext;l giving top priority to tackling legalchallenges;l safeguarding the dignity and rights ofindividuals and marginalised groups;l addressing the issue from a humanrights framework;l empowering communities through aparticipatory process;l social marketing;l social mobilisation;l sensitising and involving leaders(government, religious andcommunity) to create a more opensociety;l involving marginalised groups andPLWHA networks in forming policy,designing and implementingprogrammes and allowing themto build ‘new identities’ withinsociety; andl identifying both prevention and care/support.5.3.2 Conflict and developmentin South AsiaThe South Asian region is torn by civil andmilitary conflict, both within countriesand across borders, and has large refugeepopulations. Though there have been fewstudies that establish a direct link betweenconflict situations and the spread of HIV,civil and military strife do aggravate thevarious factors that fuel the epidemic. Ata general level, conflict situations disruptRegional Human Development Report120 HIV/AIDS and Development in South Asia 2003