Past Events
AIDS2022
HIV and Human Rights
30 July, 2022 | 16:30-17:30pm
Download flyer with complete list of speakers here.
This session intended to demonstrate to the audience the fundamental role of human rights in determining HIV prevention and treatment outcomes. The session focused on how human rights violations reinforce disparities among communities including sexually and gender diverse communities (though limited data for trans populations). Dr. Shereen El Feki of UNAIDS gave a presentation on challenging discriminatory and ineffective laws, followed by a Q&A session with other panelists.
Global Dialogue: Strategies to Strengthen Civic Space and the Civil Society Engagement in the HIV Response
3-4 November 2021 | 8:00 – 10:00 EST
Download concept note with complete list of speakers here.
UNDP convened a Global Dialogue on strategies to strengthen civic space and civil society engagement in the HIV response. The event builds on UNDP’s work on democratic governance, rule of law and inclusive institutions and the organisation’s commitment to strengthening civic engagement. The event also builds on the work of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS and its partnerships with civil society and communities of people living with and affected by HIV, as well as the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, which has highlighted the impact of restrictions on the activities of civil society organisations on the HIV response.
The overall objective of the Global Dialogue was to provide a forum for governments, civil society organisations, communities of PLHIV and key populations and other partners to engage in constructive dialogue on strategies to strengthen civic space and the meaningful participation and engagement of civil society in the HIV response, including to deliver on the ambition of the goals in the Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026. Watch the two-day global dialogue below:
Removing Legal and Structural Barriers to Ending AIDS by 2030: Lessons from the Global Commission on HIV and the Law
21 June 2021, 9:00am EST / 3:00pm CET / 4:00pm EAT / 6:30pm IST
Download concept note with complete list of speakers here.
UNDP, on behalf of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), convened the Global Commission on HIV and the Law (the Global Commission) to examine legal and human rights issues through an HIV lens, and increase awareness among key constituencies on issues of rights and law. In 2012, the Global Commission released its report HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights & Health, which called on countries to outlaw discrimination, repeal punitive laws and enact protective laws to promote public health and human rights for effective HIV responses. In 2018, the Commission issued a Supplement highlighting developments since 2012 in science, technology, law, geopolitics, and funding that affect people living with or at risk from HIV and its co-infections. The recommendations added to and amplified those of the Commission’s 2012 report. Today, more than 90 countries have taken action to repeal or reform laws.
In 2020, the Program on Global Health and Human Rights, Institute on Inequalities in Global Health at the University of Southern California undertook an external evaluation of the impact, success factors, challenges and good practices of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law. The evaluation noted that the Global Commission ‘acted as a critical platform to open up the global response around HIV and the law, influencing global discussions and actions and facilitating other partners’ exploration and financing’ of the issues covered by the Global Commission. It also highlighted the Commission’s contribution to improving legal and policy environments in the areas of criminalization of HIV, key populations, gender equality, children and young people, drug policy, and access to medicines. The evaluators noted that the Commission’s findings and recommendations remain relevant and important to the HIV response, not only historically but moving forward.
AIDS2020: Virtual
The Promises and Perils of Digital Technology: Expanding Access for Young Key Populations
Thursday 9 July 2020 | 9:00 – 10:30 EST
Download flyer with complete list of speakers here.
Globally, only one in three young people demonstrate accurate knowledge of HIV prevention and transmission. However, digital technology is increasingly being used to enhance access to information among young people and to improve access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services. Increased accessibility of digital technologies now allows young people and service providers new ways to communicate, share information, collect data and facilitate evidence-based advocacy. At the same time, the virtual world exposes young key populations to potential risks due to existing punitive norms and stigma and insufficient safeguards around privacy, safety and security. This session focused on how the HIV community can leverage innovations in digital technology to help young key populations access services and drive advocacy. Speakers shared their views on how to strengthen privacy and data protection in order to mitigate risks.
Making the Law Work for People Living with HIV
Friday 10 July 2020 | 9:00 – 10:30 EST
Download flyer with complete list of speakers here. View the recording of the session here (pw: 2j%K9*59)
While the law can be a powerful tool to improve the lives of people living with HIV, bad laws can lead to stigma, discrimination and violence, hindering global HIV response efforts. One area in which the law has impacted directly on the HIV response is the criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission. Both in its 2012 Report and in the 2018 Supplement, the Global Commission on HIV recommended that countries should not enact HIV-specific criminal laws and should repeal these laws where they exist. However, in places where these laws do exist, prosecutors can use their discretion to ensure the rights of vulnerable populations are respected. To help mitigate the impact HIV-related criminal prosecutions, UNDP is