Communication from a Human Rights Perspective: Responding to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Eastern and Southern Africa A Working Paper for use in HIV and AIDS Programmes

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 599-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
NEIL FORD ◽  
DAN ODALLO ◽  
ROZANNE CHORLTON
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Working Paper ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Eastern And Southern Africa ◽  
Hiv Aids

scholarly journals UNDERSTANDING STIGMA – THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL APPROACHES

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1529-1535
Author(s):  
Rumiana Budjeva
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

Stigma is a powerful tool for social control. It can be used to differentiate, exclude or exert pressure on certain individuals or groups of people who have certain characteristics. Stigma does great harm to both the individual and society as a whole. The main objective of stigma is to maintain visible the negative qualities of the individual in order to place them in a disadvantaged position and lasting social and psychological isolation. However, stigma goes beyond the level of the individual and becomes a social problem when it affects wider categories of people. The main purpose of the report is to seek adequate scientific approaches and methods to understanding and study of the phenomenon social stigma. Stigmatized people are often subject to rejection and social exclusion. In its extreme forms stigma turns into discrimination which directly violates their civil and human rights. Stigma and discrimination, seen as violations of fundamental human rights, can occur at different levels: political, economic, social, psychological and institutional. As social processes through which social control is created and maintained, generating, legitimizing and reproducing social inequality, stigma and discrimination are at the heart of the vicious circle in which some groups of people are underestimated and others feel superior and untouchable. To illustrate the process of stigmatization, we will use the example of people living with HIV / AIDS. Theory of stigmatization plays an important explanatory role in the experience of a comprehensive understanding of the social relations of phenomena such as HIV / AIDS. The deep understanding of the mechanisms by which stigma and discriminatory attitudes affect the overall life of people living with HIV / AIDS will help us not only to treat adequate them, but to form a workable and effective action against the spread of the disease. From the moment when scientists are confronted with HIV and AIDS, the social response to fear, denial, stigma and discrimination has accompanied the epidemic. It can be said that HIV and AIDS are more of a social phenomenon than a pure biological or medical problem. It leads to an unfounded sense of shame and guilt and a sense of futility. Stigma incites depression and despair, causes lack of self-esteem. It pushes people to mental and social isolation and deprives them of support and care, increasing their vulnerability. In this way, stigma exacerbates the negative impact of the disease and increases the risk of its spread.

scholarly journals Gender and HIV/AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa: Rethinking Men and HIV/AIDS Mitigation Uganda and Rwanda

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberts K. Muriisa ◽  
Jolly Rubagiza ◽  
Asasira Simon Rwabyoma
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Eastern And Southern Africa ◽  
Hiv Aids
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document