the cornerstone to an effective response to HIV

Improve the human rights situation for men who have sex
with men and transgender people—the cornerstone to
an effective response to HIV
UNAIDS and its Cosponsors will promote rights-based approaches to ensure supportive legal
and social environments for delivering appropriate HIV programmes directed towards men who
have sex with men and transgender people at a scale adequate to the task at hand. This includes
supporting policies and political empowerment and leadership on these issues and supporting
programmes geared towards commitments for achieving universal access to HIV prevention,
treatment, care and support for men who have sex with men and transgender people.
This work will build on what UNAIDS and its Cosponsors have already done to document
and respond to the ways that human rights are, or are not, respected, protected and fulfilled by
States and non-State actors (encompassing community, faith-based and social institutions). There
is evidence that ensuring the protection of human rights helps mitigate the impact of HIV. UN
agencies have mapped and analysed legal and human rights environments, documented human
rights violations, provided guidance on rights-related legislation and legal reforms, and supported
media and communications to advance human rights.
For an enhanced response for male-to-male sex, transgender people and HIV, UNAIDS and its
Cosponsors will:
Develop, strengthen and promote rights-based norms and standards for the
integration of men who have sex with men and transgender people into national
AIDS responses and provide specific policies and guidance for rights-based and
evidence-informed programmes and services;