Intersectionality and Multiple Discrimination

The concept of multiple discrimination recognises that discrimination can occur on the basis of more than one perceived characteristic. For example, a person who is discriminated on the grounds of their ethnicity may be also discrimination on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, age, and so on. Such discrimination can, and often does, create cumulative disadvantage.

Countries that criminalise same-sex relationships, sex work and drug use have poorer HIV outcomes

Countries that criminalise same-sex relationships, sex work and drug use have significantly more people with undiagnosed HIV and lower rates of viral suppression than countries that do not criminalise, or criminalise these areas to a lesser extent. Countries with human rights protections in place fared much better than those without on these HIV-related indicators, according to an analysis by Dr Matthew Kavanagh of Georgetown University.

Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention: A Policy Framework

Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention highlights the importance of placing the person living with HIV at the centre of managing their health and wellbeing. The Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention Framework requires a concerted multisectoral effort to work towards removing punitive laws and passing more laws that support and enable policies in favour of expanding programmes proven to reduce new HIV infections while protecting the human rights of people living with HIV and those who are at higher risk of exposure to the virus.

HIV criminalisation laws around the world

HIV criminalisation is a global phenomenon, with problematic legislation in every region of the world. Countries criminalise people with HIV for transmission, exposure and/or non-disclosure of HIV status. This page provides a brief overview with global examples and a link to more detailed and up-to-date information by country.

What does undetectable = untransmittable (U=U) mean?

Overview of U=U, explaining how effective treatment lowers the level of HIV (the viral load) in the blood to a level where sexual  transmission of HIV is no longer possible. When the levels are extremely low (below 200 copies/ml of blood measured) it is referred to as an undetectable viral load. At this stage, HIV cannot be passed on sexually.

Implementing and scaling up programmes to remove human rights related barriers to HIV services

This publication builds on existing global technical guidance in human rights responses, and further advances efforts to support implementers to design and deliver high quality human rights programmes that are well integrated, sustainable, and at scale. The guidance is practical and organised around the Investment Approach to HIV. It helps implementers to understand the programmatic components of evidence-informed and quality interventions to remove barriers to services.

Making Change Happen: Advocacy and Citizen Participation

The Making Change Happen workshop brought together innovative activists and thinkers to reclaim advocacy and citizen participation as deep and ongoing processes of organizing, consciousness raising, political empowerment and social transformation to benefit the poor and marginalized. This report is structured around the key themes addressed during the meeting:

  • Engagement in advocacy – When is a policy space strategic and when is it just window dressing?
  • Issue-based struggle or struggle-based issue  – Linking social transformation and policy advocacy
  • Who’s who in advocacy – Identity, representation and legitimacy
  • How to assess success – Evaluation for learning