Joint UNAIDS/OHCHR Press Release - September 10, 2002

"AIDS is a human rights issue," said Ms Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Access to HIV/AIDS treatment is key to realizing the fundamental human right to health. Under international human rights law, states have an obligation to take positive legislative, budgetary and administrative measures that progressively advance the right to the highest attainable standard of health. This commitment should be matched by resources, including from donors and the international community."

The key change pertains to updated Guideline 6 on "Access to prevention, treatment, care and support," which is based upon the following premises:

-- Access to HIV/AIDS-related treatment is fundamental to the realization of the right to health;

-- Prevention, treatment, care and support are a continuum;

-- Access to medication is one element of comprehensive treatment, care and support;

-- International cooperation is vital in realizing equitable access to care, treatment and support to all in need.

The revised Guideline 6 is one of 12 International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights published in 1998 by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

"With the advent of life-prolonging HIV treatment, and price barriers falling, access to treatment is now at the heart of realizing the human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS," said Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director. "The new Guideline 6 will help governments and civil society focus on the need to scale up access to prevention and treatment. Today's unequal and limited access to treatment is unacceptable, with less than 5% of people in the developing world who need HIV medicines having access to them."

In addition to its importance in advancing human rights, the revised guideline strengthens the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted last year by 189 governments at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS. At that meeting, governments pledged to reduce HIV prevalence among young people by 25% in worst affected countries by 2005 and globally by 2010.

The revised guideline breaks new ground by calling for specific actions on the part of governments. For example, Guideline 6 asks governments to establish concrete national plans on HIV/AIDS-related treatment, with resources and timelines that progressively lead to equal and universal access to HIV/AIDS-related treatment, care and support; ensure that vulnerable populations have access to treatment, care and support; establish mechanisms that would enable people living with HIV/AIDS to challenge inequalities and discrimination in accessing HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support; ensure quality control and assurance of medicines, diagnostic and related technologies; and strengthen international cooperation and assistance to HIV/ADS-related prevention, treatment, care and support through contributions to the recently-established Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Guideline 6, an outcome of the international expert consultation on HIV/AIDS and human rights held in Geneva on 25-26 July 2002, provides an up-to-date policy guidance that is based on current international law and best practice at country level.

The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights are available on www.unaids.org and www.unhchr.ch.

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For more information, please contact Anne Winter, UNAIDS, Geneva, (+41 22) 791 4577, Dominique de Santis, UNAIDS, Geneva, (+41 22) 791 4509, Veronique Taveau, OHCHR, Geneva, (+41 22) 917 9305, (+41 79) 477 0852 (mobile) or Andrew Shih, UNAIDS, New York, (+ 1 212) 584 5024.

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