Human Rights and Policy for People with HIV/AIDS

Rights and Humanity Declaration and Charter on HIV and AIDS, United Nations Commission on Human Rights, 1992;71 South African AIDS Consortium Charter of Rights on AIDS and HIV, 1 December 1992; Cebu Statement of Belief, UNDP Inter-Country Consultations on Ethics, Law and HIV, the Philippines, May 1993; Dakar Declaration, UNDP Inter-Country Consultations on Ethics, Law and HIV, Senegal, July 1994; Phnom Penh Declaration on Women and Human Rights and the Challenge of HIV/AIDS, Cambodia, November 1994; Paris Declaration, World AIDS Summit, Paris, 1 December 1994; Malaysian AIDS Charter: Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities, 1995; Chiang Mai Proposal on Human Rights and Policy for People with HIV/AIDS, submitted to the Royal Thai Government, September 1995; Asia-Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organization's Compact on Human Rights, September 1995; Montréal Manifesto of the Universal Rights and Needs of People Living with HIV Disease; Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, March 1995; New Delhi Declaration and Action Plan on HIV/AIDS, Interdisciplinary International Conference: AIDS, Law and Humanity, December 1995.
71 E/CN.4/1992/82, annex.
International Guidelines
on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights

8. The formulation of the present Guidelines is a culmination of these international, regional and national activities and an attempt to draw on the best features of the documents described above, whilst also focusing on strategic action plans to implement them. It has been noted that, although some positive measures at the national level to promote and protect human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS are in place, a dramatic gap exists between professed policy and implementation on the ground.72 It is hoped that these Guidelines, as a practical tool for States in designing, coordinating and implementing their national HIV policies and strategies, will assist in closing the gap between principles and practice and be instrumental in creating a rights-based and effective response to HIV.