Moving Forward through Community Response

This article focuses on the centrality of human rights in the prevention and care of HIV/AIDS. At a time when advances in medical therapy are changing perceptions about AIDS the continuing synergy between prevention and care made possible in nonstigmatized situations is underlined. Examples in the Asia-Pacific region showing how this happens among marginalized groups are presented. These examples show that respect for rights lead to empowerment which enables individuals to make informed choices and act accordingly. These actions are not concentrated on risk reduction alone but address how to deal with discrimination the removal of stigma and the building of the social and cultural fabric of once marginalized communities. Finally the key elements required to deal effectively with the HIV/AIDS epidemic are: 1) to work with groups and individuals most affected by HIV/AIDS; 2) to look closely at how to integrate empowerment care and support in prevention efforts; 3) to build capacity and support for communities affected by AIDS; 4) to mobilize political will for change to happen; and 5) to ensure the protection of human rights

Asia pacific · Ethnology · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Political science · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Medicine · Virology

• Institutional and structural forms of HIV-related discrimination in health care

  Yi Yang, K-L Zhang et al.•AIDS Care•2005

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• Converging Concerns

  Anne Donchin•Signs: Journal of Women in…•2004

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