GETTING INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL ADVOC

GETTING INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY…
Here are some examples of how your organization can advocate for human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, at the international level:
Your organization, and sometimes individuals can send information to inter-governmental bodies that investigate human rights
abuses. If you want to submit information to an inter-governmental agency, you will find it useful to work together with a human rights
organization in your country. They will have information about your country's international obligations and experience working with the United
Nations and other inter-governmental organizations.
Some of the UN bodies or programmes that are particularly interested in receiving information about human rights and HIV/AIDS are:
•The UN Human Rights Commission, which looks at general issues, rather than individual cases, and some of its special investigating experts,
including the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, the Special
Rapporteur on the Right to Education, and others.
•The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, a treaty-based body that oversees the implementation of the
Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
•The Committee on the Rights of the Child, a treaty-based body established to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child.
(You will find contact details for these bodies in the “Resources“ of this section.)
“The protection of human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS” discussed by the UN
Commission on Human Rights
The UN Commission on Human Rights has repeatedly discussed and given clear messages regarding the importance of promoting and protecting
human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS. (*)
The Commission calls on governments, the UN and NGOs to :
•ΣTake all necessary measures for the protection of HIV/AIDS related human rights, including ensuring that their laws, policies and practices
respect human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS.
•Assist developing countries, and in particular the least developed countries and those in Africa, in their efforts to prevent the spread of the
epidemic and alleviate and control the impact of HIV/AIDS on the human rights of their populations and care for those affected.
(*) Resolutions : E/CN.4/RES/1997/33 UN Commission on Human Rights 53rd Session, 1997; E/CN.4/RES/1999/49 UN Commission on Human Rights 55th Session, 1999; E/CN.4/RES/2001/51
UN Commission on Human Rights 57th Session, 2001.
Find out what steps your government is taking to implement the International Guidelines on Human Rights and HIV/AIDS and make your
own comments on what your organization believes is needed in your country. Governments' reports to UN bodies are normally available to the
public. This type of action is more productive and effective if done jointly with other organizations in your country working on HIV/AIDS and human
rights. For further information, contact the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and/or UNAIDS. (Please find contact details under
“Resources”)
Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are able to participate as observers in sessions of the UN Human Rights Commission or its
subsidiary body, the Subcommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities and make oral statements. This
is a powerful way of presenting a view to the international community. The NGOs who can attend have a "consultative status" such as the
International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA). Currently, there are 2012 NGOs with consultative status. (For further
information on applying for “consultative status” with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and for the complete list of NGOs who
have “consultative status”, please see “questions” at : www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/ - You may also find a complete list of the Youth
NGOs working with UN at the UN web-site : www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/links.htm)
Individual cases of alleged human rights abuses may be admitted and heard by a regional court, if there is one in your region, and if all domestic
(national) remedies have been exhausted. Individual complaints may be submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee under a special
mechanism set up in the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Providing legal advice to formulate complaints can be a
complex process: it is therefore a good idea to establish links with human rights organizations in your country or abroad that are familiar with the
international human rights machinery.