Scientific Facts on AIDS

6.3 Recommendation #3: Aggressively address AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

To stop the AIDS pandemic, it is essential to change the social norms, attitudes and behaviours that contribute to its expansion. Action against AIDS-related stigma and discrimination must be supported by top leadership and at every level of society, and must address women’s empowerment, homophobia, attitudes towards sex workers and injecting drug users, and social norms that affect sexual behaviour—including those that contribute to the low status and powerlessness of women and girls.

Therefore, it is essential to pass, publicize, and enforce laws and policies that protect women and girls against discrimination and sexual violence and to prevent discrimination against people perceived to be at a higher risk of having HIV, such as sex workers, injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. In addition, women need to be adequately represented in policy and decision-making on AIDS.

To reduce HIV-related stigma, it is also essential that barriers to universal access to education such as school fees, compulsory school uniforms or textbook charges be addressed or removed.