In line with the World AIDS Campaign 2011-2015, Getting to Zero, this year we want to mark the World AIDS Day by challenging stigma and promoting support and compassion in the workplace.
Stigma and discrimination are among the primary barriers to achieving universal access to HIV treatment, care, and prevention. People living with HIV involvement is essential to fight stigma and discrimination in all settings.
Key figures
- HIV-related stigma and discrimination still hinder efforts to protect people from acquiring HIV infection
- Stigma and discrimination drive people away from the information and services they need; exacerbating HIV risk and undermining thus the effectiveness of all responses
- According to the Stigma Index, 20% of the people living with HIV surveyed in Rwanda and 25% of their peers in Colombia have experienced physical violence because of their HIV status. In Pakistan, 26% of people living with HIV say they have been excluded from family activities because of their HIV status , and at least 10% of their peers in Belarus, Myanmar and Paraguay have been denied health care because of HIV-related stigma. Large proportions of people living with HIV report losing their jobs or income because of their HIV status. Many people internalize this stigma: more than 60% of people living with HIV in Bangladesh, China, Myanmar and Scotland said they felt ashamed of being HIV-positive [1]
- Universal access will never be achieved without human rights, including the right to access HIV prevention and treatment services
- Networks of People Living with HIV, such as the Red Cross Red Crescent positive
Network ( RCRC+), have been harnessing the leadership of People living with HIV
- Organizations of People Living with HIV, such as RCRC+, which is part of the global network of people living with HIV ( GNP+) are a key driving force in the response to HIV, giving a personal power and bringing firsthand experience and expertise to people living positively with the virus and inspiring others to action
General messages
At the center of Red Cross Red Crescent HIV Stigma and Discrimination work is our commitment to:
- Valuing human life
- Respecting the dignity of all people
- Respecting diversity and promoting the equality of all people without distinction of any kind
- Preventing and eliminating human suffering
- Supporting community values that encourages respect for others and a willingness to work together to find solutions, in the spirit of compassion and mutual support, and
- Addressing social and economic inequities and fostering social justice.
We do so by using the Red Cross Red Crescent formidable strength, which is the capacity to undertake direct action at community and family level, while also building sustainable systems to strengthen integrated service delivery and community resilience overall.
[1] The People Living with HIV Stigma Index. London, International, Planned Parenthood Federation, 2012 (http://www.stigmaindex.org, accessed 15 June 2012).