Global challenges in securing equity and human rights: Re-envisioning the role for evaluation in the contemporary HIV/AIDS epidemic

AbstractDespite spirited efforts by the African governments, the church, faith based organizations, non-governmental organizations, individuals and communities, available statistics confirm that the AIDs epidemic continues to advance. This has been exacerbated by grinding poverty, patriarchal gender power relations that render women powerless, damaging practices supported by both traditional and modern cultures, ineffective health care systems, stigma and discrimination. Women and girl children suffer in greater proportions relative to men. Their human rights have been violated inside and outside the church. There is therefore a need to prioritize women's human rights in order for nation states and individuals to implement successful public health strategies, behaviour change and the restoration and maintenance of human dignity. The church should consistently condemn the sin of stigmatization and discrimination. It should revise its education in this area and develop an ecclesiology that would effectively respond to the HIV/Aids epidemic in a just, loving and gender inclusive manner.

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The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

10.1093/oso/9780190672676.003.0014 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Helena Nygren-Krug

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

United Nations ◽

Scale Up ◽

Health Coverage ◽

Joint United Nations Programme ◽

Aids Epidemic ◽

Nations Programme ◽

United Nations Programme ◽

Health Related ◽

Hiv Aids

This chapter centers on the role of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in promoting and protecting HIV-related human rights. It starts by recalling the rationale for creating UNAIDS and explains how its mandate and structure has enabled communities affected by HIV to remain engaged. This engagement has been critical in ensuring that human rights considerations remain at the forefront of the global AIDS response. The chapter also looks at the journey ahead, taking AIDS “out of isolation.” It argues that this process can benefit not only the AIDS response but also other health-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets, in particular universal health coverage (UHC). It concludes by recognizing the SDGs as a springboard for UNAIDS to scale up efforts to support the realization of human rights, which will ultimately determine whether we will be able to reach the end of the AIDS epidemic.

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