Credit: UNIC

Stigma and discrimination and punitive legal environments continue to block people around the world from accessing the HIV services they need. Thirty years into the epidemic they still represent a major barrier to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. To find ways to overcome these obstacles, a community dialogue event provided members of key populations at higher risk of HIV a critical and groundbreaking platform at the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS to share their expertise and experience. The panellists—who represented leaders among men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgendered people and sex workers—reinforced the call for full recognition and protection of their human rights in all national HIV responses.

Ten years since the 2001 Declaration of Commitment, in which Member States committed to eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV and vulnerable groups, many countries still lack anti-discrimination laws and use punitive approaches to key populations that create barriers between them and HIV services. Countries cite stigma as the single greatest impediment to accelerating progress in the HIV response; however, stigma reduction programmes are neither adequately resourced, taken to scale or targeted to benefit key populations.

The event, hosted by the UK and South Africa Governments and partnered by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance (IAA) and International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), was an opportunity for leaders from key populations at risk of HIV to describe what is needed and what is working in the criminalized and discriminatory environments in which they live their everyday lives. Many communities have taken bold steps to overcome human rights abuses and lack of access to HIV services—organizing to demand their rights, providing services through their peers, working with local police and government leaders for recognition and protection. What is needed now is greater support and political, legal and social space for these groups to continue to find and implement such solutions that work for them.

Rather than simply describing the barriers they face in accessing services, they highlighted examples where their key affected population has achieved greater access and offered concrete solutions on how we can address these obstacles in a practical way.

United Kingdom Minister for International Development, Stephen O’Brien, in his introductory remarks stressed that for effective AIDS responses, it is essential to work with key populations without prejudice and address restrictive laws that are hampering access to services for key populations.

Alexei Kurmanayevsky from Russia shared his experience as a person who injects drugs and is living with HIV. The panel also included Penninah Mwangi who is the Director of Bar Hostess Association, Nairobi, Kenya—one of the longest standing sex worker-led organizations in Africa. Marcela Romero from Argentina spoke as a transgender person. Othman Mellouk from Morocco spoke about the barriers to delivering effective HIV services to men who have sex with men.

The event was chaired by Michaela Clayton, Executive Director of ARASA and Co-chair of UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights, who also invited interventions from the floor. Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations, stressed the need for a rights-based approach when addressing HIV. "Full respect for the human rights of key populations and evidence-based interventions targeted to the realities they face, as well as support for their leadership and capacity to find solutions for their communities, are all critical to advance the AIDS response," Ms Beagle said.

The key recommendations from each speaker and the floor discussion were collated into a list of recommended next steps to be presented to the Chairs of the High Level Meeting on AIDS.

UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the world has come together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS from 8–10 June 2011 in New York. Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.

Credit: AMREF

If international aims such as achieving health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and universal access to HIV services are to be realized, the serious global shortage of health workers must be urgently addressed. This shortage has been severely exacerbated by the AIDS epidemic reducing staff numbers and significantly increasing the workload of those remaining. 

At a side event during the High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York this week, the need to recognise human resources as a crucial element in the global AIDS response was explored in depth. Without sufficient human resources, countries' efforts to scale up comprehensive AIDS services will not be sustained, making it impossible to reach the MDGs. 

The meeting, Can MDG 6 be achieved with the Health Workforce we have?, was jointly organized by the Global Health Workforce Alliance (GHWA), along with the Government of Brazil,  the Commonwealth Secretariat, UNAIDS and the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF).

A lively panel discussion, including heads of state, senior representatives from donor and international organisations, civil society and the private sector, examined the interconnectivity of HIV and human resources and also shared best practices.

Joining discussants Mphu Ramatlapeng, both Global Fund Vice-chair and Lesotho’s Health Minister and Secretary Jarbas Barbosa, Brazil’s Secretary of Health Surveillance, were keynote speakers Dileita Mohamed Dileita, Prime Minister of Djibouti and Maxensia Nakibuuka, a Ugandan community health worker living with HIV. The session was moderated by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Laurie Garrett, who is also Senior Global Health Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations research centre.

Mr Dileita Mohamed Dileita highlighted the effects of an insufficient number of health workers, their uneven distribution, and limitations in their competencies in his own country, Djibouti. Dr Barbosa agreed that uneven distribution of staff is a major problem in Brazil.  

Speaking as a community health worker Maxensia Nakibuuka from Uganda emphasized the difficulties she and her colleagues faced, “We are left to do it alone. Without system strengthening, without budgets; with nothing…We need to be recognized.”

According to Mphu Ramatlapeng, the Global Fund is helping countries meet their needs, with round 11 of Fund proposals including support for health workforce strengthening. She also stressed the crucial need for all stakeholders to work together. 

The role of the private sector in offering support was examined. Michael Bzdak, Johnson & Johnson ‘s Director of Contributions and Community relations, spoke of their corporate social responsibility and building health care capacity, primarily in terms of leadership,  management techniques and skills training.

Dr Sigrun Mogedal, former-Ambassador, HIV/AIDS and Global Health Initiatives, Norway, and former Chair of the GHWA board, commented on the need to “do things differently.”  She referred to the recently released Alliance taskforce report Will we achieve universal access to HIV/AIDS services with the health workforce we have? A snapshot from five countries and stressed actions required by governments and other decision makers. These include: estimating numbers and types of health workers needed to reach international targets; strengthening health workforce management systems; implementing costed plans for increasing and improving the health workforce; and scaling up successful approaches.

Another important aspect raised was the need to focus considerable attention not only on workforce training but on staff retention strategies, looking at motivation and job satisfaction. This point was made by Dr John Palen, Senior HRH advisor of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  

The answer to the central question posed was a sobering one: if the impact of AIDS on health workers is not seriously addressed, the human resources crisis will worsen and MDG 6 will become almost impossible to attain. Although progress is being made, there are still many gaps and challenges to overcome.

A report of the meeting will be made available shortly.

Credit: WHO

The world’s one billion people living with disabilities have poorer health, lower educational achievements and are more prone to social exclusion than those without disabilities. Launched 9 June, the first ever World Report on Disability challenges these disparities and suggests how they can be overcome.

The launch event, which took place during the High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York, was hosted by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Margaret Chan and World Bank Vice President Tamar Manuelyan Atinc. The report is produced by both organizations and the two heads were joined by other dignitaries and by representatives of government and civil society.

The publication is a global call to action and assists implementation of the groundbreaking international treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted in May 2008. Concerned with national, regional and global policy, it also includes the perspectives of many people who are living with disabilities. In addition, it features the first new disability prevalence estimates for more than three decades: it contends that prevalence is likely to rise in the future due, in part, to the increase in chronic diseases and ageing populations.

During the launch event the speakers described the difficulties people with disabilities face, including barriers to accessing health, education, employment and information services.

According to Dr Chan, "Disability is part of the human condition. Almost every one of us will be permanently or temporarily disabled at some point in life. We must do more to break the barriers which segregate people with disabilities, in many cases forcing them to the margins of society."

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé called for “an end to all discrimination and inequity faced by people living the disabilities, which not only rob people of their dignity, but block their access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.”

HIV and people with disabilities

According to the UNAIDS, WHO and OHCHR policy brief on HIV and disability people with disabilities may be at risk of HIV infection due to a number of reasons, including insufficient access to appropriate HIV prevention and support services, and their higher risk of experiencing sexual assault or abuse during their lifetime. They may also be turned away from HIV education forums or not be invited by outreach workers, because of assumptions that they are not sexually active, or do not engage in other risk behaviours such as injecting drugs.

The new report gives examples of the issues and situation concerning HIV and people with disabilities. A survey commissioned by the Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children’s Association demonstrated that hearing and visually impaired people were excluded from HIV services because they were not offered in sign language or Braille. On the other hand, there are many examples throughout the report of how individuals, organizations, countries and regions are promoting good practice.

The goal of the World Report on Disability is to provide information and strategic guidance to key actors, such as policy makers, donors and practitioners. A series of recommendations include: investing in specific programmes and services for people with disabilities; adopting a national strategy and action plan; involving people with disabilities in policy and planning decisions and raising public awareness and understanding.

Dr Babatunde Osotimehin.
Credit: UNFPA

Linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV is of critical importance. Worldwide more than 80% of HIV infections are sexually transmitted. In addition, sexual and reproductive ill health and HIV are fueled by similar causes such as poverty, limited access to services, lack of correct information, gender inequality and social marginalization.

On 8 June, during a side event at this week’s General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York, the question of how exactly such linkages can be strengthened was explored. The event was sponsored by UNAIDS, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

The highly interactive session looked at the issue through the prism of five key thematic areas: cost-effectiveness and cost savings of linkages; prevention of mother to child transmission though a sexual and reproductive health platform; comprehensive sexuality education for young people; ending gender-based violence; and human rights of people living with HIV.

Making ‘people-sense’

In his opening remarks, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, explained how the integration of sexual and reproductive health and HIV services makes ‘people-sense’. These services include testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, support for fertility decisions, and access to condoms, contraception and correct information.  He went on to emphasize wider policy and human rights implications.

“Linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV goes beyond integrating health services,” he said. “It demands from us that we fortify the human rights platform–ending stigma, violence and discrimination.”

Human rights and the right to health were said to be at the core of greater integration of services.  A broader human rights agenda can also be promoted that goes beyond service delivery and tackles legal reforms, such as those relating to the right to information and freedom from violence, abuse and coercion.

Sharing ideas and experience

The participants shared ideas and experiences of how those working in the fields of HIV and sexual and reproductive health have combined their efforts to make interventions more effective in creative and innovative ways, including strategies to strengthen treatment as a prevention option.

It was stressed that mother- and child-centred care can improve both sexual and reproductive health and HIV outcomes. For many women, pregnancy is the first point of access in the health system and they can benefit from a range of interventions, including HIV prevention and treatment integrated into routine maternal health care; family planning; and preventing and managing sexually transmitted infections and gender-based violence.

The discussion also showed that when comprehensive sexuality education is effectively implemented on a national scale, there is potential for cost saving from averting HIV infections, other STIs and unintended pregnancies.

Participants examined how men can benefit from greater integration. For instance, in countries where voluntary male circumcision is being implemented for HIV prevention, the number of men accessing other sexual and reproductive services, such as prevention of mother-to-child transmission and treatment of STIs, has increased. 

The meeting closed with agreement that linking sexual and reproductive health and the HIV response, especially in a climate of austerity, is a gateway to strengthening both the human rights agenda and health systems.

Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, President of the Republic of Fiji, chairs the panel discussion on Innovation and new technologies, 9 June 2011. Credit: UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Progress in reducing the number of new HIV infections and increasing access to antiretroviral treatment over the past three decades did not happen haphazardly but were in large part due to a concerted international effort that bridged technology and innovation for results in HIV prevention and treatment.

This emerged from an official panel entitled Innovation and new technologies, one of five panels in which high level representatives from member states and civil society are holding as part of the 2011 United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS.

Chaired by HE President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau of Fiji, the panel brought together the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan; the Minister of Health of Mexico, Dr Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos; and Dr Christoforos Mallouris, Director of Programmes, Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+).

The panellists shared their insights on how technology and innovation have played instrumental roles in helping realize the results achieved in the AIDS response to date. One example cited was the increase in the past decade of the number of people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment: in 2010 that figure stood at 6.6 million up from 240 000 in 2001. Cited as central to this unprecedented development was a combination of innovative technology that led to highly effective antiretroviral medicines and improved access to that technology through the availability of low-cost, quality-assured drugs.

“Collaboration with developing countries will be crucial," said President Nailatikau who highlighted the need to find innovative solutions at the heart of the disease. “With this, we have a chance to make a huge impact against one of the greatest health and development challenges of our generation.”

Moderated by British journalist Andrew Jack from the Financial Times, the discussion focused substantially on the several challenges facing the AIDS response from the technology and innovation perspective, mainly the necessity to urgently expand access to newer and improved HIV technologies, such as better diagnostics for CD4 and viral load counts, and increased investments in biomedical prevention technologies such as microbicides.

The panellists agreed that access to proven HIV prevention technologies—from male and female condoms to male circumcision—must continue to be scaled up and governments should ensure policies are in place within their national responses that foster innovation and advancement, from both the public and private sector. Innovative partnerships that create financial or other incentives to spur research and development were viewed as key elements.

“Let’s not let the pace of the epidemic get beyond us. We have the capacity for innovation to recreate ourselves to achieve not only zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths; but also for zero homophobia and transphobia, zero gender-discrimination and human rights for all,” said President Felipe Calderón of Mexico,

Echoing a “positive health, dignity and prevention” approach, Dr Mallouris of GNP+ urged for greater involvement of people living with HIV in prevention. “People living with HIV also need prevention and new prevention technologies. We need to ensure that people living with HIV are involved—we are not just vessels of transmission, we want prevention too,” said Dr Mallouris. 

The panel also drew attention to the recent results of the HPTN 052 study announced by the United States National Institutes of Health which demonstrated that if an HIV-positive person adheres to an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen, the risk of transmitting the virus to their uninfected sexual partner can be reduced by 96%. Attention was also given to the ongoing search for an HIV vaccine that, although estimated to be decades away, is considered by many in the AIDS community as an essential component of the future AIDS response.

“Doing more of the same is not enough,” said World Health Organization Director-General Dr Chan. “We need innovation urgently and we are still running behind this devastating epidemic. We know now…beyond doubt that early treatment has a powerful effect on transmission in sero-discordant couples—we must maximize the preventive effects of treatment by early diagnosis.”

However in both the short- and medium-term, the panel stressed the importance of rapidly expanding access to antiretroviral treatment as one of the most pressing issues. With about nine million people in low- and middle-income countries who are eligible for treatment in need, the panel encouraged countries to give priority to transferring research and technology as well as to provide sufficient funding for the research and development of safer, more effective antiretroviral medicines that are also easier to use.

UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the world has come together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS from 8–10 June 2011 in New York. Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.

First Ladies join forces to call for integration of HIV and maternal, newborn and child health programmes at special event during United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS

(Left to Right): Michel Sidibé, Executive DIrector of UNAIDS; HE Mrs. Azeb Mesfin, First Lady of Ethiopia; Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, Spouse of Secretary General of the United Nations; Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen, Cambodia.
Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 8 June 2011—Thirty First Ladies from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean gathered at a special event in New York to mobilize support around achieving the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS’ (UNAIDS) vision of Zero new HIV infections among children by 2015. The event was held on the opening day of the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS which is taking place in New York from 8-10 June.

Mrs Ban Soon-taek, wife of the United Nations Secretary-General;  Mrs Azeb Mesfin, First Lady of Ethiopia and President of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS; and Mr. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS co-hosted the New York event. 

Around 1,000 babies are infected with HIV each day, 90% of whom are in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV is also the leading cause regarding mortality among women of reproductive age in developing countries. The First Ladies agreed to advocate for comprehensive and integrated access to maternal and child health services that include services to prevent HIV transmission among infants and which keep mothers and children healthy. 

Gender inequality, gender violence, discrimination and inequitable laws prevent pregnant women from accessing HIV testing and counselling, prevention, treatment and support services. “Women and girls must be at the centre of the AIDS response,” said Michel Sidibé. “When women protect themselves from HIV, they protect a whole new generation from HIV.”

More than 2 million children worldwide are living with HIV, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Western Europe only 1,400 children are living with HIV, highlighting the global injustice of unequal access to maternal and child health services and the urgent need to increase access to HIV services for pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries.

“If women around the world are not involved in facing the challenge of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, we cannot win. If we all play our part, we cannot fail.” said Mrs Mesfin.

In recent years, a number of countries have made great strides in reducing the rate of new HIV infections among children and globally in 2009, new HIV infections among children dropped by 25%.

“The fact that, in still too many places, HIV positive women are denied the right to give birth to healthy babies is a global injustice that we can end by 2015,” said Mrs Ban.

On return to their respective countries, the First Ladies agreed to advance ten action steps to ensure that children are born free from HIV and to promote lifesaving HIV services for women and children. These include supporting efforts to; increase the number of centres providing free maternal, newborn and child health services, including treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to children; strengthen sexual and reproductive health programs for adolescents living with HIV; ensure meaningful engagement of people living with HIV; and promote zero tolerance for stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

UNAIDS Executive Director addressing the opening plenary of the 2011 General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS
Credit: UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Heads of State and Government and other high level representatives representing Member Nations gathered today in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations (UN) in New York for the opening plenary of the 2011 General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS.

More than 30 Heads of State, Government and Vice Presidents will attend the meeting which will include official plenary—in which 150 speakers representing Member States, Observers, civil society and private sector are expected to speak—and five panel sessions along with 40 individual side events.

Joseph Deiss, President of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, opened the event. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also addressed the opening plenary.

Addressing the opening UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé called on the gathered leaders to “agree on a transformational agenda to end this epidemic—one that will achieve our vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.”

“Getting to zero is not an aspirational goal or a magic number. It must be our common plan—to be transformed into reality,” Mr Sidibé added.

At a press conference ahead of the meeting, Mr Deiss highlighted the significance of the event. “The momentum around this meeting is unprecedented and promises to make this an historic event. We are looking to UN Member States to make bold commitments which will help us reach our shared goal,” he said.

The gathering takes place thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS. Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.

On the final day of the High Level Meeting on AIDS, UN Member States are expected to adopt a declaration which will guide country responses to HIV over the next five years.

Credit: Caritas

A High Level Meeting side event called Faith-based action to achieve universal access: Confronting the impact of funding cutbacks and advocating for the special needs of mothers and children living with HIV was held on 8 June. It was sponsored by Catholic HIV/AIDS Network (CHAN), Caritas Internationalis (CI), and Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB).

Becky Johnson of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance presented recent research conducted among 11 members of the CHAN documenting the effects of flat lining of funding on Catholic health service delivery partners. The position paper includes analysis of impact of funding cuts on HIV responses in medical programmes. Concerned about meeting universal access targets, the paper includes a call to governments that donors maintain their long-term funding commitments to ensure the continuation of current HIV treatment programmes, as well as new programmes where needed and for health infrastructure.

It also recommends the provision of comprehensive and integrated prevention, treatment, care and support for adults and children living with or vulnerable to HIV infection. It identifies a need to build, strengthen and sustain human resource capacity to carry out comprehensive programmes through training and retention of skilled staff and volunteers.

Its third recommendation focuses on children. It calls for improved access to paediatric testing and child friendly treatment for HIV and HIV/TB co-infection; prevention of vertical transmission; and continued support for orphans and vulnerable children.

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, Paul De Lay was an invited speaker at the event. Dr De Lay challenged the participants to think about what we really mean by “universal access”. He drew attention to the fact that AIDS brought together the medical community with the populations most affected by the disease, for the first time in the history of public health. "AIDS has brought to our attention the need to bridge health services with the broader issues of human rights, and social justice to address the root causes of vulnerability," Dr De Lay said.

Msgr Vitillo, Caritas Internationalis Special adviser on HIV/AIDS, made a strong plea for greater investment in the development of child friendly medications for HIV and the difficulties faced by mothers when asked to split adult tablets into six pieces for their children.

The event was moderated by Ms Finola Finnan, Trócaire and Chair of Catholic HIV and AIDS Network and Mr Jack Galbraith, President and CEO, Catholic Medical Mission Board.

UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the world has come together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS from 8–10 June 2011 in New York. Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, Paul De Lay and South Africa’s Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini addresses an IAG Connector Event in New York, 07 June 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/J. Szenes

The International Advisory Group (IAG) on universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support which is made up of a diverse group of HIV experts from various sectors, convened together in New York on 7 June on the eve of the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS.

Hosted by its co-chairs Bathabile Dlamini, Minister of Social Development, Republic of South Africa and Paul De Lay, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, the event is follow-up action to the IAG’s recently held meeting in Johannesburg which culminated in a bold and strong consensus statement on the need for global solidarity for universal access.

The IAG’s consensus statement identified key priorities to change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic, save lives and contribute towards achieving the UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. The consultation was an opportunity for the advisory group to discuss it has been leveraged by IAG members and various organizations in preparing for the High Level Meeting.

“We urge IAG members to use this experience to influence the regional and country responses to HIV and AIDS in the future,” said Ms Dlamini who suggested that the IAG members to take a leadership role in implementing the outcomes of the High Level Meeting. “It will be important the resolutions take are put into action plans by countries.”

Echoing Ms Dlamini, Dr De Lay said, “The work of the IAG is not finished at this High Level Meeting. In fact, it is just beginning—with each IAG member: as you take the message into the foras where it needs to be heard."

The IAG is mandated by the UNAIDS’ governing body the Programme Coordination Board to review the findings of countries’ and regions’ universal access consultations as well as other global and regional studies and declarations, and advice on the way forward for the global AIDS response.

UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the world has come together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS from 8–10 June 2011 in New York. Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.

UN Plus meeting with the Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and UNAIDS Cosponsor Executive Heads at UN Headquarters on 8 June 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

UN Plus, the United Nations group of HIV positive employees, met with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 8 June to discuss stigma and discrimination as well as the various health insurances existing in the different UN agencies that are hampering the access of staff members living with HIV, and their families, to continued, comprehensive care.

“I am very committed to issues that UN Plus advocates and whenever I meet with its members I am personally motivated to take action against such issues as stigma and discrimination,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “I reiterate the UN’s commitment to continue to collaborate with UN Plus to improve the work environment for UN staff living with HIV,” he added.

The meeting was an opportunity for UN Plus coordinator John Oshima to give an update on the work of the UN system-wide advocacy group. Since its last meeting with the UN Secretary-General in 2009, UN Plus has grown from 165 members to 220. Approximately 70% of its members are women and the majority of them are staff members working in sub-Saharan Africa. UN Plus is currently focusing efforts on reaching out to more staff living with HIV in other regions including Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.

UN Plus organizes activities across the UN system to support UN staff living with HIV and their family members globally. These activities include advocacy to promote better access to care and support, removing stigma from the workplace, ensuring confidentiality, and lifting entry and travel restrictions for people living with HIV.

Martina Clark from UNICEF talked about access to care and health insurance among HIV-positive staff members. She briefed the Secretary-General on the fact-finding exercise that UN Plus is conducting to identify gaps in health insurance schemes adopted by different agencies as well as several proactive initiatives by a number of agencies to lessen financial burdens caused by costly treatments.

Jacqueline Cortes from UNAIDS in Brazil briefed the Secretary-General on stigma and discrimination at workplace with her own experience and introduced a new campaign co-produced with UN Cares titled Stigma Fuels HIV which is hoped will lead to behaviour change among UN staff members and end HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Mr Ban said that it is the duty of all Heads of Agency to speak out and act against discriminatory or stigmatizing behaviour at any level. This includes working towards equitable and fair access to health care services for people living with HIV and those with other long-term chronic conditions. In addition, Mr ban said that a person’s HIV status should not adversely impact his or her career progression and that HIV positive staff should have the same opportunities as anyone else.

The UNAIDS Executive Director closed the meeting thanking the Secretary-General, Cosponsor Executives, and UN Plus representatives. Mr Sidibé restated his personal commitment to the importance of the UN in providing an enabling environment for staff living with HIV.

UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the world has come together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS from 8–10 June 2011 in New York. Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.