To assist in the development of sound public policy, this document: proposes principles that should guide thinking on the question of criminal law and HIV/AIDS; identifies a number of public policy considerations that States should take into account when making decisions about the use of the criminal law; considers the alternative to criminalization presented by public health laws discusses if and how the criminal law might be justifiably applied; and concludes with recommendations to governments, police, prosecutors, judges and public health authorities regarding the appropriate use of criminal sanctions and coercive public health measures.

The effect of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Uganda has been severe. In the late 80s, Uganda had the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. Yet, it had few HIV testing services with counselling programmes. As a result, the AIDS Information Centre (AIC) was established to provide anonymous, voluntary and confidential HIV testing and counselling services. It operates under the premise that knowing one’s serostatus is an important intervention in controlling HIV infection. This report documents the history of the AIC, its progress, and the demographic characteristics and HIV rates of its clients. It records AIC’s HIV counselling and testing procedures, and its effect on risk reduction. Complementary integrated services such as family planning, STI management and education and referral for TB are also discussed, in addition to AIC’s various efforts to reach out to the community through drama groups, peer educators and social marketers.

When and where misinformation, taboos, prejudice and fear regarding HIV/AIDS predominate, fundamental human rights are repeatedly abused and violated. Young people are often those most vulnerable and exposed. This kit shows that many young people are demonstrating their commitment to take up the challenge and reverse this situation successfully. It is intended to provide young people with information, motivation and inspiration to undertake the creative, daring and crucial action needed to make respect for human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS become a reality for all.

In Thailand, too many girls find themselves at an early age in the sex industry, usually for lack of other options for earning a living. Young girls are desirable because they are thought to be “safe” and uninfected with HIV, but the risk of infection to them, and thence to their clients, is very high. This case study describes some responses to that problem, focusing on changing the attitudes of girls and their parents in regard to prostitution, and on providing a means for girls to avoid becoming sex workers through improved education and career opportunities.

This Technical Update focuses on the challenges involved in the protection of sex workers (and, subsequently, the general population) from HIV infection, and discusses the key elements of various effective interventions. Significantly higher rates of HIV infection have been documented among sex workers and their clients, compared with most other population groups. Though sex work is often a significant means of HIV infection entering the general population, studies indicate that sex workers are among those most likely to respond positively to HIV/STI prevention programmes—for example, by increasing their use of condoms with clients. This document explores the many issues involved in providing care and support for sex workers, preventing entry into sex work, and reducing risk and vulnerability through programmes at the ndividual, community and government levels.

HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is the gateway to both prevention and care, playing an important role in helping people to change their sexual behaviour and thus reduce HIV transmission. VCT services are being more widely promoted and developed and many countries are gradually instituting VCT as part of their primary healthcare package. The aim of this booklet is to describe the experiences of, and challenges faced by, five programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, which developed effective practices and implemented successful approaches to VCT in relation to four key thematic areas: prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT); tuberculosis (TB); young people; and general population groups. The programmes operate in low-resource settings and many of the experiences and lessons learnt may be transferable beyond country and culture, and strengthened through community mobilization and public policy measures. This booklet highlights the need for VCT not to be seen as a uniform intervention but as a flexible service that can be adapted to the needs of the population it serves.

South Africa has begun to explore how best to involve people living with HIV/AIDS in making more effective workplace responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This Case Study reports on a pilot programme—the GIPA Workplace Model—which has been developed over the past four years with United Nations support. The project’s aim is to place trained fieldworkers, living openly with HIV/AIDS, in selected partner organizations in different sectors (government departments, private companies and corporations) so that they could set up, review or enrich workplace policies and programmes.

These background papers collate analyses on key issues and lessons learnt in the implementation of the care agenda. They are the product of 12 months of consultations initiated by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with over 150 specialists representing a broad range of fields relevant to providing care for people living with HIV/AIDS. This publication features contributions from experts that reflect the breadth of a Technical Network on Access to Care. The papers were the background to the Declaration for a Framework for Action: Improving Access to HIV/AIDS Care in Developing Countries which was adopted on 1 December 2001 at a meeting held in Paris, convened at the invitation of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support of the UNAIDS Secretariat and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This Best Practice document examines how children become infected with HIV; what can be done to prevent infection in children, which includes health education and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission; and, finally, the various ways of reducing the impact of HIV on children (such as promoting early awareness, improving diagnostic facilities, providing vitamin A supplementation and immunization).

Sustainable development implies a balance between environmental and economic and social development. The devastation of the AIDS epidemic is draining the human and institutional capacities that fuel sustainable development. The report concludes that social and economic strategies are more likely to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development if they meet the challenges posed by the AIDS epidemic.