To be effective, the response to HIV must

To be effective, the response to HIV must mobilize key actors throughout all branches of government and include all policy areas, since only a combination of well-integrated and coordinated approaches can address the complexities of the epidemic. In all sectors, leadership must be developed and must demonstrate a dedication to HIV-related human rights. Governments should avoid unnecessary politicization of HIV which diverts Government energy and divides the community rather than engendering a sense of solidarity and consensus in dealing with the epidemic. Political commitment to dedicate adequate resources to respond to the epidemic within States is essential. It is equally important that these resources be channelled into productive and coordinated strategies. Roles and lines of responsibility within Government, including human rights issues, should be clarified.
15. Most countries already have national AIDS committees. In some countries, there are also subnational committees. However, the persistent lack of coordination in Government policy and the lack of specific attention to human rights issues relating to the HIV epidemic suggest a need to consider possible additional structures or to strengthen and reorient those that exist to include legal and ethical issues. Several models of coordinating committees and multidisciplinary advisory groups exist.13 Similar coordination is essential within and between lower levels of government. It is necessary tofocus such coordination not only in creating specialized HIV bodies, but also in securing a place for HIV human rights issues in existing mainstream forums, such as regular gatherings of Ministers of, e.g. Health, Justice and Social Welfare. A multidisciplinary body with professional and community representation should exist to advise Governments on legal and ethical issues. These bodies at the national level should also ensure coordination with UNAIDS, its cosponsors and other international agencies (donors, bilateral donors and others) to reinforce cooperation and assistance to areas relating to HIV and human rights.Sufficient Government funding should be allocated in order to support, sustain and enhance community organizations in areas of core support, capacity-building and implementation of activities, in such areas as HIV-related ethics, human rights and law. Such activities might involve training seminars, workshops, networking, developing promotional and educational materials, advising clients of their human and legal rights, referring clients to relevant grievance bodies, collecting data on human rights issues and human rights advocacy.Community partners have knowledge and experience that States need in order to fashion effective State responses. This is the case particularly with regard to human rights issues, as community representatives are either directly affected by human rights problems or work directly with those who are affected. States should, therefore, ensure that this knowledge and experience are included in the development of HIV policy, programmes and evaluation by recognizing the importance of such contributions and creating structural means by which to obtain them.
18. The contribution of CBOs, NGOs, ASOs and people living with HIV is an essential part of the overall national response to the epidemic, in such areas as ethics, law and human rights. Ascommunity representatives do not necessarily possess organizational ability or skills for advocacy, lobbying and human rights work, this contribution should be enhanced by State funding for administrative support, capacity-building, human resource development and implementation of activities. Collection of complaints data by CBOs and NGOs is vital to inform Governments and the international community where the most serious HIV-related human rights problems are occurring and what effective action should be implemented in response