Objective: to reduce social, religious, cultural, economic, legal and political barriers that make people vulnerable to HIV

Stigma and discrimination against people living with, associated with and affected by HIV is often cited as one of the primary hurdles in addressing prevention and care issues, and as a stumbling block in ensuring access to vital services.

The stigma surrounding HIV frequently overlaps with the stigma faced by certain key populations.

This double stigma, faced especially by sex workers, men who have sex with men, and injecting drug users, is exacerbated by the absence of policies that protect their rights, making access to services a greater challenge.

IPPF, in collaboration with UNAIDS, GNP+ and ICW, is listening to the voices and documenting the experiences of people living with HIV through the ‘People Living with HIV Stigma Index’.

Information gathered through the index questionnaire, will help guide the development of responses to address the most pressing issues facing the HIV positive community.

Worryingly, a number of countries have recently endorsed laws aimed at criminalizing HIV transmission; these laws will further increase the stigma felt by people living with HIV and discourage people from being tested and seeking treatment.

As a rights-based organization, IPPF strongly believes that criminalization of HIV transmission does not prevent HIV transmission and that more effective prevention strategies can be applied.

The principle of the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) recognizes that the personal experiences of people living with HIV can, and should, be used to shape the response to the epidemic.

IPPF Member Associations around the world are establishing more partnerships with networks of people living with HIV.

As a result, more HIV positive people are becoming part of our governing structures, helping us to respond more effectively to the sexual and reproductive health needs of people living with HIV.

Key to ensuring adherence to the GIPA principle are simple, practical steps, such as the implementation of policies to protect rights.

HIV workplace policies and programmes are examples of this. By the end of 2007, 74 out of 147 IPPF Member Associations had an HIV workplace policy and this number is expected to increase.

The roots of HIV-related stigma and discrimination run deep, and stigma-reduction means talking openly about issues and behaviours that are all too often silenced or taboo:

• sex
• sexuality
• drug use
• sex work
• gender inequality
• poverty
• race

IPPF strives to overcome barriers to comprehensive services for those living with and affected by HIV, believing that ‘access=life’.