Our Shared Response To AIDS: Rights And Responsibilities

HIV infection threatens the health and life of millions of people worldwide. It potentially affects us all, whether by actual infection or by the devastating consequences of infection on our families and communities.

When rights and responsibilities are fully assumed and shared, the issues of HIV infection/AIDS will be addressed with success.

Rights

Everyone has the right to access information to prevent infection, and - where infection has already occurred - to health care for HIV infection/AIDS.

Everyone is entitled to enjoy all human rights without discrimination, including discrimination based on actual or suspected HIV infection.

Everyone should have the right to confidentiality regarding his or her HIV status.

Children living with HIV infection/AIDS or otherwise affected by the virus have the right to continued support from family members or, if orphaned, to appropriate surrogate care.

Families affected by HIV infection/AIDS have the right to be free from discrimination and stigma within their communities. They have the right to care and support from their communities and health care providers.

No one should be subject to mandatory testing for HIV infection/AIDS. Testing should be carried out with informed consent, preferably in the context of pre- and post-test counselling.

Cultural, educational and religious institutions, and employers all have the right to dialogue with governmental and inter-governmental agencies involved in HIV infection/AIDS, so as to become informed and be able to minimize impact in their constituencies.

Responsibilities

Everyone has the responsibility to protect him or herself by avoiding behavior that carries a risk of infection.

Everyone has the responsibility to protect others by avoiding behavior that might put others at risk of infection.

Mothers and fathers have a shared responsibility to ensure that all members of their family understand HIV prevention, appropriate care, and the importance of tolerance, compassion and non-discrimination for people living with HIV infection/AIDS.

Families have a shared responsibility to ensure that:

• family members living with HIV infection/AIDS are not abandoned, but given care and support within the family;
• the care of relations affected by HIV infection/AIDS is shared equitably by all family members.

Employers have a responsibility to be informed about HIV infection/AIDS and to promote or provide access to such information to their employees. They should ensure that their workplace has a nondiscriminatory environment and nondiscriminatory policies for people living with HIV infection/AIDS in the areas of hiring, employment, confidentiality, health care and benefits.

Cultural, educational and religious institutions have a responsibility to:

• ensure that they are informed about HIV infection/AIDS issues;
• promote and provide HIV infection/AIDS prevention information and education in appropriate manners;
• adapt where necessary to respond effectively;
• promote tolerance, compassion, responsibility and nondiscrimination for people living with HIV infection/AIDS.

Rights and Responsibilities: A-Z

 
This information first appeared in the winter 1996 issue of the Health Unit newsletter "HIV Happenings" (content was taken from World AIDS Day Newsletter, 1995 - No. 2).