continuum of an effective response to HIV

Prevention, treatment, care and support are mutually reinforcing elements and a continuum of an effective response to HIV. They must be integrated into a comprehensive approach, and a multifaceted response is needed. Comprehensive treatment, care and support include antiretroviral and other medicines, diagnostics and related technologies for the care of HIV and AIDS, related opportunistic infections and other conditions, good nutrition, and social, spiritual and psychological support, as well as family, community and home-based care. HIV-prevention technologies include condoms, lubricants, sterile injection equipment, antiretroviral medicines (e.g. to prevent mother-to-child transmission or as post-exposure prophylaxis) and, once developed, safe and effective microbicides and vaccines. Based on human rights principles, universal access requires that these goods, services and information not only be available, acceptable and of good quality, but also within physical reach and affordable for all.States should develop and implement national plans to progressively realize universal access to comprehensive
International Guidelines
on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights

treatment, care and support for all persons living with HIV, as well as universal access to a full range of goods, services and information for HIV prevention. National plans should be developed in consultation with non-governmental organizations to ensure the active participation of people living with HIV and vulnerable groups.
Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support is necessary to respect, protect and fulfil human rights related to health, including the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health। Universal access will be achieved progressively over time. However, States have an immediate obligation to take steps, and to move as quickly and effectively as possible, towards realizing access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support at both the domestic and global levels. This requires, among other things, setting benchmarks and targets for measuring progress.
Access to HIV-related information, goods and services is affected by a range of social, economic, cultural, political and legal factors। States should review and, where necessary, amend or adopt laws, policies, programmes and plans to realize universal and equal access to medicines, diagnostics and related technologies, taking these factors into account. As one example, duties, customs laws and value-added taxes may hinder access to medicines, diagnostics and related technologies at affordable prices. Such laws should be revised so as to maximize access. States should ensure that national laws, policies, programmesand plans affecting access to HIV-related goods, services or information are consistent with international human rights norms, principles and standards. States should consider the experience and expertise of other States, and consult with people living with HIV, non-governmental organizations, and domestic and international health organizations with relevant expertise.
States should also ensure that their laws, policies, programmes and practices do not exclude, stigmatize or discriminate against people living with HIV or their families, either on the basis of their HIV status or on other grounds contrary to international or domestic human rights norms, with respect to their entitlement or access to health-care goods, services and information