HIV and AIDS continue to challenge

The United Nations bodies, agencies and programmes comprise some of the most effective and powerful forums through which States can exchange information and expertise on HIV-related human rights issues and build support among themselves to implement a rights-based response to HIV। States, in their work with and governance of these bodies, can use these bodies as tools for promoting the Guidelines. States must, however, both encourage and enable these bodies through political and financial support, to take effective and sustained action in terms of promoting the Guidelines and must respond positively to the work done by these bodies with steps taken at the national level.States are urged to implement these Guidelines in order to ensure respect for the human rights of those affected by HIV and to ensure an effective and inclusive public health response to HIV. These Guidelines are based on experience gained from best practices which have proven to be effective over the last 15 years. By implementing these Guidelines, States are able to avoid negative and coercive policies and practices which have had a devastating impact on people’s lives and on national HIV programmes.The practical aspects of protecting HIV-related human rights are more likely to be addressed if there is leadership on this issue in the executive and legislative arms of government and if multisectoral structures are established and maintained. Vital to any policy development and implementation is the involvement of affected communities, together with relevant professionals and religious and community leaders, as equal partners in the process.As national legislation provides a critical framework for the protection of HIV-related human rights, many of the Guidelines relate to the need for law reform. Another major instrument of social change is the provision of a supportive and enabling environment within which to conduct HIV-related prevention, care and support activities. Part of this enabling environment can be obtained by changing attitudes through general and targeted education, public information and education campaigns which deal with HIV-related rights, tolerance and inclusion. Another part of this enabling environment involves the empowerment of women and vulnerable groups to deal with HIV by taking measures toimprove their social and legal status and to assist them in mobilizing their communities.
HIV and AIDS continue to challenge our societies in many ways. It is incumbent on States, communities and individuals to address extremely difficult and pervasive societal issues which have always been present in our societies, and to identify solutions thereto. With the advent of HIV, we can no longer afford to evade these issues because to do so threatens the lives of millions of men, women and children. These issues relate to the roles of women and men, the status of marginalized or illegal groups, the obligations of States concerning health expenditure and the role of law in achieving public health goals, the content of privacy between individuals and between individuals and their Governments, the responsibility and ability of people to protect themselves and others, as well as the relationship between human rights, health and life. These Guidelines are means for giving guidance on these difficult matters – guidance which has evolved from the international human rights regime and from the courageous and inspiring work of millions the world over who have demonstrated that protecting the human rights of people means protecting their health, lives and happiness in a world with HIV.