Global action against HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination
Launch: World Red Cross Red Crescent Day, 8 May 2002International

Federation of Red cross and Red Crescent Societies
General Assembly, November 2001

Declaration on HIV/AIDS*

We, the member societies of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, convened in Geneva, Switzerland 7-10 November 2001 for our 13 th General Assembly,

Recognizing that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a devastating health and socioeconomic crisis,

Following our Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality and Neutrality,

Acknowledging our commitment to serve and involve the most vulnerable people, including people living with HIV/AIDS,

And recognizing the need to build partnerships at all levels in order to be successful,

Declare that we will confront this pandemic threefold, through:

Prevention,
Care Treatment and support, and
Promotion of the dignity of those affected

Prevention
We will educate our communities on HIV transmission, facilitate gender equity and other
behavioral changes. We will convey culturally sensitive, straightforward messages and promote life skills (e.g. communication and negotiation skills, and management of options including abstinence, mutual fidelity, and the use of condoms). We will promote access to services which prevent mother to child transmission. We will promote voluntary and confidential counseling and testing.

Care, Treatment and support
We will contribute to the provision of home and community based care. We will promote
access to affordable drugs by supporting the negotiation of long-lasting solutions that
drastically reduce the price of anti-retrovirals for resource-limited countries. We will assist in
the development of the basic health infrastructure required to provide health services as well as to deliver and monitor the use of these drugs, ensuring that the role and responsibilities of authorities and National Societies is clearly defined. We will provide psychological, social and other forms of support to those affected.

Promotion of dignity
We will promote and defend the dignity of those affected by HIV/AIDS and make the Red
Cross Red Crescent a supportive home for people living with HIV/AIDS, calling on their
courage and insight to contribute to the AIDS response.

We commit ourselves to ensuring that this declaration is put into practical action by all
national societies without delay, giving due consideration to special needs, traditions and
individual country circumstances. HIV/AIDS will be discussed at every regional and global
meeting of the International Federation from the year 2002 onward until the epidemic is
defeated.

* Final version approved by the Governing Board at its extraordinary session of 10 November 2001