Universal Action Now: Stigma,

Discrimination and Human

Rights
Sofia Gruskin
Program on International Health and Human Rights
Harvard School of Public Health
Global Media Training
Friday August 1, 2008
HIV and Human Rights:
Making the Connections
 What is Meant By Human Rights?
•International human rights law defines what governments can do to us,
cannot do to us, and should do for us.
•Human rights law is meant to be equally applicable to everyone,
everywhere in the world, across all borders and across all cultures and
religions.
•Human rights are universal, interrelated and indivisible.
•Human rights are primarily about the relationship between people and
the state. International human rights law consists of the obligations that
governments have agreed they have in order to be effective in promoting
and protecting our rights.
•Every government in the world has committed to promoting and
protecting rights in the context of HIV and AIDS.
 Some HIV/AIDS-Related Rights
• The right to life, survival,
and development
• The right to equality and
non-discrimination
• The right to travel and to
freedom of movement
• The right to bodily integrity
and security of the person
• The right to an identity
• The right to privacy
• The right to seek, receive
and impart information
• The right to food
• The right to health
• The right to housing
• The right to work
• The right to social security
• The right to be free from
torture
• The right to association
• The right to the benefits of
scientific progress
• The right to education
 Stigma and Discrimination

What Are the Differences and Why Do

They Matter?
 Basic Conceptual Relationships

HIV/AIDS ¼ Human Rights

HIV/AIDS» Human Rights

Different Approaches To The Work Of
HIV/AIDS and Human Rights
• Advocacy
• Legal Standards and Accountability
• Program design, implementation,
and evaluation [a “rights-based
approach”]
It is always important to be clear how rights language is
being used and for what purpose.
International Human Rights Documents Relevant to HIV/AIDS
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)*
1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination**
1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights**
1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights**
1979 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women**
1985 Convention Against Torture**
1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child**
2002 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of their Families **
* The UDHR is not a legally binding document, but has served as inspiration for,
and incorporated into, all the human rights treaties that have followed.

** Legally binding on nations that have ratified

Different Approaches To The Work Of
HIV/AIDS and Human Rights
• Advocacy
• Legal Standards and Accountability
• Program design, implementation,
and evaluation [a “rights-based
approach”]
It is always important to be clear how rights language is
being used and for what purpose.
 Critical Components of A Rights-
Based Approach to HIV/AIDS
• Attention to the Legal and Policy Context
• Participation
• Non-discrimination
• The Right to Health (availability,
accessibility, acceptability and quality of
services)
• Transparency and Accountability
UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on
HIV/AIDS
• Prevention • Research and Development
• Care, Support and Treatment • HIV/AIDS in Conflict and
Disaster-affected Regions
• HIV/AIDS and Human Rights
• Resources
• Reducing Vulnerability
• Follow up:
• Children Orphaned and Made
Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS - National Level
• Alleviating Social and Economic - Regional Level
Impact
- Global Level
 Examples of 2008 Country Responses to
the Human Rights Section of the
National Composite Policy Index

Source: UNAIDS 2007

83%  of  countries  reporting  indicate  that  they  have  a 

“policy to ensure equal access for women and men, to 
prevention,  treatment,  care  and  support.” The 
challenges  noted  arise  in  implementation:  societal  and 
economic barriers impede access for women.
Examples of 2008 Country Responses to
the Human Rights Section of the
National Composite Policy Index
Source: UNAIDS 2007

63%  of  countries  report  laws  or  policies  that  may  hinder 
their  ability  to  deliver  HIV  prevention,  treatment,  care  and 
support  services  to  most‐at‐risk  populations.    Examples  of 
obstructive laws noted include those that: 
•Criminalize  sex  work,  drug  use,  consensual  sex  between 
males; 
•Preclude  access  to  condoms  and  to  needle  exchange 
programs for prisoners; 
•Require  parental  consent  for  legal  minors  to  access  HIV‐
related services; and 
•Criminalize HIV transmission. 
While the existence of these laws is troubling, it is positive to 
note  an  increase  in  governments’ self‐reporting  since  the 
2006  reporting  round  as  it  demonstrates  their  increasing 
commitment to transparency and accountability. 
 Examples of 2008 Country Responses to
the Human Rights Section of the
National Composite Policy Index

78%  of  countries  indicate  they  have  no 

performance  indicators  for  human  rights  Source: UNAIDS 2007

compliance.  This  may  reflect  the  methodological 

difficulties  in  measuring  human  rights  compliance 
but  appropriate  indicators  are  needed  for 
governments  to  invest  in  ensuring  progress. 
Possible  questions  for  assessing  human  rights 
compliance  at  national  level  include:  are  national 
laws  and  policies  in  line  with  international  human 
rights  commitments?  Is  there  a  functional 
mechanism in place to document and address cases 
of discrimination against PLHIV and/or most‐at‐risk 
populations?
 Where To Get Current
Country Specific Information on
Human Rights and HIV Issues
• 2008 Country Responses to the National
Composite Policy Index (part of UNGASS
reporting)
• 2008 Country Narrative Reports (part of
UNGASS reporting)
• 2008 Shadow Reports by Civil Society
(where they exist)
What Using All Three Sources
Together Can Show You
 Concluding Points
Human rights are relevant to people infected, affected and
vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
•The need to promote and protect human rights in the
response to HIV/AIDS is well-established.
•A rights-based response to HIV and AIDS is the most
effective.
•Current country, regional and global information on HIV
and human rights issues is publicly available and should be
used.
•Many presentations at this conference will raise human
rights concerns. Be on the lookout for how human rights
are discussed in the actions being suggested.
 Thank You!

Sofia Gruskin
Program on International Health and Human Rights
Harvard School of Public Health
sgruskin@hsph.harvard.edu
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/pihhr