Update

UNAIDS and the Global Fund launch guidance on HIV human rights programmes

27 May 2017

To support countries to integrate human rights principles in their HIV prevention, testing and treatment programmes, UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) jointly launched two mutually supportive technical documents on 29 May.

The UNAIDS guidance document Fast-Track and human rights offers practical advice on why and how efforts to Fast-Track HIV services should be grounded in human rights principles and approaches. It includes three checklists to support and guide the design, monitoring and evaluation of HIV services in order to realize human rights and equity in the AIDS response.

The Global Fund technical brief HIV, human rights and gender equality supports grant applicants to include programmes to remove human rights and gender-related barriers to HIV services. It also gives advice on implementing human rights-based and gender-responsive approaches to HIV.

Together, the documents will inform the development of Global Fund concept notes, national Fast-Track plans and other work to accelerate the response to HIV. They will provide practical guidance to national policy-makers, HIV programme implementers, communities, civil society organizations, the United Nations and donors as they design, oversee, fund, monitor and implement efforts to Fast-Track HIV programmes. 

Quotes

“We must go beyond talking about HIV-related discrimination and human rights violations. Now is the time to act and support governments, civil society and affected communities to respond to these challenges through programmes to advance human rights, dignity and equity.”

Michel Sidibé UNAIDS Executive Director

“Under its new strategy, the Global Fund is committed to reducing human rights-related barriers to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services. We need to do this because it is the right thing to do, but also because it will increase the impact of our investments. We are taking a practical, pragmatic and programmatic approach, and this means ensuring countries vastly increase investment in the seven key programmes to reduce stigma and discrimination and increase access to justice that our new technical brief and the UNAIDS guidance document describe.”

Marijke Wijnroks Chief of Staff, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria