The promotion and protection of human rights is crucial for effectively tacking HIV, the World Health Organisation said today.
Speaking in advance of World AIDS Day today (December 1), director general Dr Margaret Chan highlighted the importance of human rights for people affected by HIV.
She said: "Health, HIV and human rights are inextricably linked. HIV responses need to ensure that human rights are protected and promoted. At the same time, the promotion and protection of human rights reduces HIV risk and vulnerability and makes HIV programmes more effective."
She points out that the people most at risk of HIV are also the most likely to suffer human rights violations. For this reason, policies and programmes to tackle HIV "must promote human rights and empower individuals to exercise their rights", she says.
"It is clear that too many people still do not have access to essential HIV services that can prevent HIV infections and save lives," Dr Chan warns. "Antiretroviral treatment is still only available to one third of people in need."
Currently, only 53 per cent of HIV-positive pregnant women can access treatment to protect their babies from infection. Injecting drug users, sex workers, and men who have sex with men tend to have the least access to HIV prevention, treatment and care.
Dr Chan believes the health sector has a critical role in promoting public health when laws are made and strategies developed by other sectors.
She said: "WHO is firmly committed to the goal of achieving universal access to key HIV services. However, this will not be possible unless we make sure that the human rights of everyone, everywhere, are protected and promoted."
Leave a Reply