The UNAIDS has said that the world cannot end the HIV/AIDS epidemic except the stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS is stopped.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said in his message to mark the 2016 Human Rights Day, commemorated on Dec. 10, that UNAIDS would continue to stand up for the protection and promotion of human rights for the stigmatised members of the society.
“The world will never achieve the end of AIDS without bold actions to advance the human rights of the people left furthest behind.
“Stigma and discrimination based on health status, gender, sexual orientation, drug dependency, disability and migrant and refugee status, among others, prevent people from accessing life-saving HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.”
He said the communities most affected by HIV must be meaningfully involved in the AIDS response “if we are to overcome the stigma, discrimination and denial of human rights that continue to put people at risk of HIV and deny them access to HIV prevention and treatment services”.
Across the world, inequalities and injustice threaten sustainable development and perpetuate social exclusion, Sidibé said.
“The AIDS response has demonstrated the importance of tangible results from overcoming the human rights violations that are fuelling the epidemic.
“The voice and leadership of people living with HIV and key populations remain essential for ending the AIDS epidemic. UNAIDS stands up for their rights and for the meaningful participation of affected communities.
“On Human Rights Day, UNAIDS calls for the world to stand up for the rights of the most discriminated against and marginalised and for an end to stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against everyone.” (NAN)