Launch of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law: Addressing punitive laws and human rights violations blocking effective AIDS responses
From UNDP and UNAIDS (first sent 8 June 2010)
16-Jun-2010
Credible evidence on the role and impact of legal environments on HIV and health sought
(Geneva) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of the UNAIDS Secretariat of the Joint United Nations Programme of HIV/AIDS, will launch a high level Global Commission on HIV and the Law on Thursday, June 24, 2010. Bringing together leadership from the United Nations, members from community advocacy groups, and Global Commission members, the launch aims to share information on the aims, process and expected results of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law.
The AIDS response is increasingly bearing the brunt of human rights violations. There are numerous reports from across the globe of the negative impacts of punitive laws, policies and practices on national AIDS responses including escalating stigma, reducing access to health, legal and social services, and increasing HIV risk and vulnerability. Credible evidence on the role and impact of legal environments on HIV and health is essential for mobilizing national commitment for advancing rights based AIDS responses.
If universal access and the Millennium Development Goals are to be realized, the AIDS response must reach beyond prevention and treatment targets to engage and support those who are the most vulnerable in our societies. If the full prevention benefits of anti-retroviral treatment are to be realized, health and community systems must be able to effectively engage those who are marginalized by punitive laws, policies, practices, stigma and discrimination. The hallmark of the next generation of the AIDS response must be legal, regulatory and social environments that advance human rights and gender equality goals.
The Global Commission on HIV and the Law launch will take the format of brief statements from participants followed by a moderated Q & A with members of the press.
Venue: Palais des Nations, Press Room 3, Geneva Date and Time: Thursday, June 24th 2010, 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Participants:
- Ms Helen Clark, Administrator, UNDP
- Mr Michel Sidibe, Executive Director, UNAIDS Professor Miriam Were (Kenya), Commissioner, Global Commission on HIV and the Law
- Ms Claudia Ahumada (Chile) Coordinator of Women’s Campaign, World AIDS Campaign
For more information contact:
- Adam Rogers | Geneva | Senior Strategic Communications Advisor |tel. +41 22 917 85 41| adam.rogers@undp.org
- Natalie Amar | New York| Secretariat, Global Commission on HIV and the Law |tel. +1 212 906 6168 | natalie.amar@undp.org