DURBAN--UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, set the tone
Wednesday for the panel discussion on how to
reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS by saying that
it is "the greatest human rights challenge
facing us today". Robinson repeatedly equated
the struggle for universal human rights with
AIDS diagnosis and treatment, even saying that
the UN Special Session on AIDS, which took place
in June at UN Headquarters in New York City,
left her a bit disappointed when the final declaration
was drawn up.
"The close link between the promotion
of human rights and AIDS prevention was not as clear
as it should have been," Robinson said. "We
know that respect for human rights reduces the infection
of HIV/AIDS. We know that."
Robinson introduced the chair of the panel, Barney
Pityana of the South African Human Rights Commission,
telling the audience that she thanked him for arriving
even though he was only told that morning about
the panel discussion. The other panelists were
Peter Aggleton of UNAIDS and Dr. Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho
of the World Health Organization.
Pityana took the
opportunity to complement Robinson of her handling
of the conference overall, saying
, "I read a lot of things that the conference
is falling apart but we thank you for your energy
and dedication." The statement was met with
applause from the audience.
To illustrate the link between AIDS and human
rights, Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director for
UNAIDS, spoke about the newly released compendium
on the discrimination, stigmatization and denial
(DSD) of HIV/AIDS victims in Uganda and India.
"When I spoke to journalists this morning,
they asked me what I was doing here, at the World
Conference against Racism. I was prepared for all
questions except that one. That just shows that
people don't understand the link between stigmatization
and AIDS." The driving forces of AIDS, Piot
said, are discrimination, poverty, stigmatization
and gender issues. "It's as simple as that." He
praised Robinson for her "commitment to fighting
HIV" and noted that her dedication is stronger
than a number of other UNAIDS's sponsors.
According to the
UNAIDS compendium, in Uganda, DSD leads to the
ostracization of children in their
schools, men and women in their places of worship,
and 53 percent of persons surveyed believe that
people with AIDS should not be allowed in the workplace.
All this leads to despair for the victims and fear
of being tested for people in high-risk categories
(men who have sex with men or drug users or heterosexuals
who have multiple partners). The one two punch
of fear and shame is indicative of "related
intolerance."
"When it comes to gender issues, HIV/AIDS
is always discussed," said Dr. Nafis Sadik,
Special Representative to the Secretary General.
Sadik said that there is an "unequal relationship
between men and women, with men spreading AIDS
through their promiscuity."
"The HIV rate for women 15-24 is six times
higher then men," Sadik said. "This suggests
women are being infected by older men." Sadik
said there is a perception in a lot of countries
that it is normal, or at the least commonplace,
for men to be promiscuous and adulterous. And men
even laugh when it's even suggested that they be
told about HIV.
"These ideas have been around for centuries," she
said. Men, in some countries, also believe in the
myth that they can be cured from AIDS by having
sex with a virgin girl. That leads to rape and
subsequent infection, and all the stigmatization
that comes with having a sexually transmitted disease
therefore many of them do not get tested.
"The stigma
is much greater for women then men because women
who sleep with multiple partners
are viewed differently and if a woman has AIDS,
her character is questioned in certain countries.
"Large amounts of women are infected by their
own husbands," Sadik said.
Sadik said men
must be taught at a young age that women are
their equals. She called for adequate
leadership and resources, before adding that, "Actions
speak louder than words."
Sadik then spoke
about her frustration with religious leaders
in a number of countries who refuse to
give out condoms before she told a story of a delegate
from a Catholic country who spoke of his daughter. "He
said, 'I may disagree with my daughter about sexual
immorality, but she does not have to die because
we disagree.' I respect and applaud that man because
of his views on morality and his willingness to
speak about AIDS. I hope you can convince your
governments to do the same."
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