Documenting HIV-related human rights violations against people living with HIV (PLHIV)

Globally people living with HIV are experiencing human rights violations which are related to their HIV-positive status. The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) documents these violations through the Human Rights Count! Findings from pilot studies in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia show that the most common right violated is the right to work, with work being terminated or denied owing to the HIV positive status of the person. More importantly in all three countries more than 60% of the people whose rights were violated did not report the violations to the authorities.

"Results from the Human Rights Count! demonstrate the need for the focus on human rights in the HIV response," says Dr. Kevin Moody, International Coordinator and CEO of GNP+. "It also shows the necessity for human rights and legal literacy services for people living with HIV. Human rights should be universally respected and it is the duty of the government to protect them."

The Human Rights Count! gathers evidence through a specifically designed reporting questionnaire, developed and implemented through a methodology driven by people living with HIV. Documented cases inform and provide the evidence towards devising long-term solutions to these violations. GNP+ collaborates with networks of people living with HIV at country level to build awareness of human rights and ensure that any global policy and advocacy is informed from the grass roots level.

Under Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention there is a clear commitment to respecting the rights of individuals – placing the dignity of individual people living with HIV at the heart of prevention efforts. Only in such environments the health and wellbeing of each individual can be properly protected and built.

During one of the late breakers sessions, the Global Network of People living with HIV will present results from Namibia and Swaziland as well as snapshots of new indicative data from Canada, Indonesia, and the United States of America.

The Global Network of People living with HIV is presenting summaries of documented HIV related human rights violations against people living with HIV in two sessions during AIDS 2010:

Documenting HIV-related human rights violations, for advocacy, in Namibia and Swaziland. Thursday 22 July - 11.00 – 12:30 - Session Room 6.
This oral session will highlight findings from Namibia and Swaziland, the first to implement the Human Rights Count! in partnership with the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA). The session will including snapshots of new indicative data from Canada, Indonesia, and the United States of America. (THLBF103)

For more information about GNP+ and Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention, please contact Martin Stolk, GNP+ Communications Officer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .