UNAIDS Condemns AIDS Stigma as a Form of Discrimination that Helps Spread the Virus

At the world racism conference in Durban, South Africa, Dr. Peter Piot, head of UNAIDS, said countries need to adopt legislation to outlaw discrimination against those infected with HIV. According to Piot, the laws should send a clear message of support to people who are infected, encouraging them to publicly reveal their infection and help break down the stigma around the disease. "You can't fight AIDS without fighting the stigma and discrimination," Piot said.

In a speech to the conference Tuesday, Piot paid tribute to Gugu Dlamini, a South African woman who publicly revealed she had HIV in November 1998 and was beaten to death three weeks later. He also urged delegates to document HIV-related human rights violations, encourage support groups for those with HIV and ensure prevention and care are available to all members of society. "HIV is associated with sex or drugs in many societies, if not in all. These are difficult issues, and it's associated with shame and fear because of that," Piot said. "Stigma and discrimination prevent leaders from coming out and speaking about AIDS. They feel inhibited. They don't want to be associated with it." Piot said that heroes and national leaders need to publicly challenge HIV discrimination. He urged delegates to document HIV- related human rights violations, encourage support groups for those with HIV, and ensure that prevention and care are available to all members of society. "Just like with prevention and treatment, we need a combination of efforts to tackle discrimination," Piot said.

The racism conference has adopted language to be included in its final declaration noting that "people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as those who are presumed to be infected, belong to groups vulnerable to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which has a negative impact and impedes their access to health care and medication."

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