On Zero Discrimination Day this year, governments, civil society organizations and communities highlighted the urgent need to take action to end the inequalities that persist around the world.
These included a number of countries and partners of the Global Partnership for Action to eradicate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination (Global Partnership) that marked the day by organizing co webinars, launching campaigns to accelerate the implementation of commitments to end HIV-related stigma and discrimination or raise awareness of the essential need to achieve respect for all.
Globally, the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP +) has launched #MoreThan, a global online campaign to promote the diversity of lives, achievements, interests and dreams of people living with and affected Identify HIV. And UNAIDS, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria organized a webinar to demonstrate the potential of evidence-based programming as well as community-led responses to end HIV-related stigma and discrimination. . The event used best practices from countries as diverse as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica and Ukraine.
At national and regional levels, Non-Discrimination Day was marked by a number of initiatives. For example, in West and Central Africa, Senegalese artist Coumba Gawlo launched a man to raise awareness and inspire action to respond to HIV in the region, along with other artists Wally Seck (Senegal), Djelly Mady Kouyate (Gambia) and Nestor Lendjy (Guinea-Bissau).
In Senegal, the People Living with HIV (RNP +) Network held a conversation to raise awareness of the impact of HIV-related stigma on women and girls. The conversation brought together people living with HIV and representatives from women’s movements, key figures, human rights advocates, policy makers and health service providers. The results of the conversation will be used to inform the advocacy strategy that will develop RNP + on human rights and gender issues to better respond to the impacts of HIV-affected members and communities.
Evidence shows that women in Senegal living with HIV have barriers in accessing reproductive health services, that sex workers have high levels of stigma in care settings health and the economic and social vulnerability of women living with HIV is not sufficiently considered in HIV programming. “Women and girls are discriminated against and this is why they are often excluded from the labor market, isolated in communities or stigmatized in health centers. . Key figures are also historically a target of discrimination in Senegal, ”said Soukèye Ndiaye, President of RNP +.
In Côte d’Ivoire, UNAIDS, in cooperation with the National Program de Lutte contre le Sida, the Alliance Côte d’Ivoire, Enda Santé Côte d’Ivoire and Ligue Ivoirienne des Droits de l’Homme, Global Partnership and in addition value to representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice, as well as civil society partners. The meeting came to a report that will inform Côte d’Ivoire’s strategy to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
In the Central African Republic, the first country to join the Global Partnership, Health and People’s Minister Pierre Somse, above all, issued a declaration recalling the government’s commitment to non-discrimination and equality. “Only by tackling inequality can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, including those relating to wellbeing and health for all,” said Mr Somse. .
Other events in the Central African Republic included a civil society consultation to identify priorities for the elimination of stigma and discrimination and a roundtable discussion on a radio show to show that stigma and discrimination are barriers to including prevention, treatment, care and support services. Special training on the National Convention for the Quality of Care and Patient Rights was carried out for medical staff in two major health care centers in Bangui. In the Central African Republic, more than 80% of people living with HIV in the country have reported being discriminated against or stigmatized.
In Iran’s Islamic Republic, a new anti-discrimination rule was posted on social media to mark Non-Discrimination Day. In Thailand, UNAIDS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Health hosted a panel discussion on the Global Partnership to demonstrate the power of governments, civil society and the United Nations to tackle stigma and discrimination related to HIV in Asia and the Minch. . And in the Republic of Moldova, an updated roadmap has been developed to address the remaining barriers associated with stigma and discrimination, gender normalization and equality, reflecting on the commitments made under the National AIDS Program and the Global Partnership.
Finally, on the eve of Zero Discrimination Day, Kazakhstan officially joined the Global Partnership. For Baurzhan Baiserkin, Director of the Kazakh Scientific Center for Dermatology and Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, the campaign will make a positive difference to people living with HIV, prisoners, migrants and other key groups.
“Kazakhstan supports the Global Partnership campaign to eradicate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. I am confident that it will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, ”said Mr Baiserkin.
The Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate All Stigma and Discrimination Related to HIV is an initiative aimed at reducing and accelerating the implementation of commitments made to end stigma. and HIV-related discrimination by bilateral United Nations Member States, United Nations agencies. and international donors, NGOs and communities.