STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION: HINDERING EFFECTIVE HIV

RESPONSES

NGO 2010 Report

2010 Report based on aCivil Society Consultation

Online survey in ten languages

1500 respondents started survey and 1021 completed it

57 key informants interviewed by Delegates and Communications Facility

8 focus groups conducted by NGO Delegates and Communications Facility

Consultation respondents

Gender: 60% male, 36% female; 4% transgender

65% identified as being or serving PLHIV

No answer3%

Asia and the Pacific

16%

Europe17%

North America

19%

Africa21%

Latin America and the

Caribbean24%

Regional distribution

Key Findings: Impacts of Stigma & Discrimination on

Access

21%

61%

28%

13%17%

5%

22%

58%

25%

10%14%

8%

27%

59%

24%

11% 13%6%

22%

56%

26%

15% 15%

7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Little or no stigma and/or

discrimination (S&/D)

Experienced S&/D when accessing

services

Afraid to access services

Denied access to services

Difficult or impossible for another reason

Don't know

Prevention SRH Treatment Care&Support

Key Findings:Reasons for Not Accessing

58%

36%

58%

47%

13%

3%

56%

37%

62%57%

9%2%

53%

41%

66%

55%

6% 4%

51%

37%

63%

51%

34%

8%4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Identify with a group that is

discriminated against

Gender identification or

sexual orientation

Confidentiality reasons

Health care workers are not helpful or they refuse to treat

Family does not know or

acceptstatus (option only

given with care & support)

Other No answer

Prevention SRH Services Treatment Care&Support

Key Findings:Lack of confidentiality; lack of care

Respondents who were afraid to, or denied, access cited lack of confidentiality as the top reason

Half of these respondents cited health care workers as unhelpful or even refusing to treat

We need comprehensive training within health and community care systems, with specific attention to working with key populations

“Unfortunately, although the healthcare

workers have information, they do still have prejudice and are judgemental with regard to us, as ..... HIV positive patients.”

Key Findings:Negative associations

More than half of respondents who were afraid to, or denied, access said it was because they associate with a group that is discriminated against

We need to be able to recognize, collect data, involve and support key populations, especially the most marginalized

We need to be able to more effectively measure stigma

Key Findings:Criminalization

Perpetuates stigma and discrimination which further marginalizes populations affected by HIV and AIDS

Undermines the public health and evidence-based response to HIV and AIDS

Incompatible with a public health approach

We need to remove punitive laws and practices that inhibit the response to HIV and to reaching the MDGs

What exists to help?

Majority aware of protective laws but responded that laws not enforced or followed

UNAIDS work on stigma and/or discrimination: Two-thirds knew of UNAIDS work on this Half found UNAIDS to be somewhat effective, effective or

very effective on this work

We need to implement and expand a comprehensive package of programs to reduce stigma and discrimination

We need tools to measure progress in tackling stigma

Global Priorities Identified by Respondents

1. Raising awareness and knowledge about HIV

2. Changing harmful policies and laws

3. Funding civil society organizations as a key tool to fight stigma and discrimination

Maintaining previous commitments to protect quality of life

Universal Access enshrines this commitment on paper but we have fallen short on action

2011 : review and renew our commitment

Focus on tackling stigma and ending discriminatory practices

Zero discrimination. Zero new HIV infections. Zero AIDS-related deaths.

Thank you!

www.unaidspcbngo.org