HIV/AIDS and Human Rights

1. HIV/AIDS and Human Rights A New HIV Infection every Six Seconds

2. OUTLINE • General Facts • UN Commission on Human Rights • Human Rights Violations Lead to HIV/AIDS • HIV/AIDS Leads to Denials in Human Rights • Causes of Discrimination against PLWHA • Rights of PLWHA • Women’s Rights • Women are more Vulnerable to HIV • Human Rights in the Context of Saudi Arabia

3. General Facts • Over 42 Million today living with HIV/AIDS • 95% in the developing world • 28 Million dead already (2002) • Highest rates amongst people aged 20–44 (productivity) • Tragedy for Children • 45% of South African army recruits HIV positive Threat to National Security

4. UN Commission on Human Rights • Resolution 49/1999 “Discrimination on the basis of HIV or AIDS status, actual or presumed, is prohibited by existing international human rights standards, and that the term, ‘or other status’ in non-discrimination provisions in international human rights texts should be interpreted to cover health status, including HIV/AIDS”

5. Human Rights Violations Lead to HIV/AIDS • Violations of Civil and Political Rights • Violations of the right to adequate standard of living • Violations of the right to information and education • Violations of the right to Health and Medical services • Violations of the right to share in scientific advancement • Violations of women’s rights • Violations of the right to non-discrimination (Stigma)

6. HIV/AIDS Leads to Denials in Human Rights • The right to freedom from want • The right to employment and fair labour practices • The right to education • The right to health and medical services • The right to privacy • The right to freedom of movement • The right to participation and the right to legal remedy

7. Causes of Discrimination against PLWHA • HIV is life-threatening • Fear of contracting HIV • Sexual taboos • Responsibility ( are HIV carriers responsible for contracting the disease?) • Deviant behaviour • Religious and moral beliefs

8. Rights of PLWHA • The right to life • The right to liberty and security of person • The right to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health • The right to non-discrimination, equal protection and equality before the law • The right to freedom of movement • The right to seek and enjoy asylum • The right to privacy • The right to freedom of expression and opinion and the right to freely receive and impart information

9. Rights of PLWHA (ctd) • The right to freedom of association • The right to marry and found a family • The right to work • The right to equal access to education • The right to social security, assistance and welfare • The right to an adequate standard of living • The right to share in scientific advancement and benefits • The right to participate in public and cultural life • The right to be free from torture and other cruel , inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment

10. Women’s Rights UNAIDS and UNGASS Declaration of commitment • Discrimination in education, health, employment, etc… • Sexual and other forms of violence • Lack of access to reproductive health • Trafficking • Stigma • Economic Dependence… = renders women vulnerable to infection

11. Women are more vulnerable to HIV • Physiologically (soft tissue in female reproductive tract, vaginal tissue absorbance of fluids, STIs) • Socially (lack of control over sex relations, little access to sexual health information & services) • Economically (vulnerable, dependent, desperate. Informal employment --> no health insurance) • Gender implications (GBV “physical abuse, rape”, commercial Sex-work & Sex-Tourism, Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation, voluntary or forced migration & Displacement,

12. Human Rights in the Context of Saudi Arabia • Are Human Rights an issue in terms of HIV/AIDS in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? • How do you think we are failing? • Where do you think we can do better? • Should UNDP advocate and how? • Stigma

13. The respect of individual human rights is a precondition for an effective response to HIV/AIDS, and violations of human rights are recognized as primary pathogenic forces in the spread of the disease. Thank you