HIV and Human Rights

The spread of HIV/AIDS is fueled by subtle infringements upon and outright abuse of human rights. Social, cultural, and legal factors that enforce norms of discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic circumstance, drug use, or legal status deny individuals the tools and freedom to protect themselves from HIV and live healthy lives, regardless of HIV status. Racism, sexism, and homophobia fuel economic and social inequalities that perpetuate the AIDS crisis. More broadly, until universal access to the fundamental necessities of life – including food, shelter, education, medical care, and employment – can be secured, HIV/AIDS will not be eliminated. Advocates working for human rights and to end HIV/AIDS share a common goal: our work will be made stronger the more we can collaborate, ally, and support one another’s movements.

Human Rights

Justice Department Releases First Ever Rules to Prevent, Detect, Respond to Prison Rape

Submitted by jmerrell on Thu, 05/17/2012 - 3:56pm

Voices for Justice video cross posted from Just Detention International.  Original posting here.

Over 200,000 individuals are sexually assaulted while imprisoned in the U.S. each year.  In an effort to address these staggering numbers, Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003.  PREA directed the federal government to create new rules for preventing, detecting and responding to incidents of sexual assault among the more than 2 million peopel who are imprisoned in the U.S. at any one time.

In 2009, HIV Prevention Justice Alliance and our allies submitted comments on draft rules for the implementation of PREA.  Today we are happy to announce that the Department of Justice issued final PREA rules, marking the successful culmination of years of cross-movement mobilization.

However, the work isn't done yet.  Ensuring full and robust implementation of these new rules will require ongoing vigilance from the community.  Join our Mass Imprisonment & Criminalization Working Group to stay connected to updates and advocacy opportunities around PREA and other related fronts of struggle.

Further Reading Resources:

Department of Justice Statement on new rules.

Just Detention International Analysis & Video.

 

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Info for 5/10 Webinar: Defending Sex Worker Rights - Stories from the Ground

Submitted by Suraj Madoori on Mon, 04/30/2012 - 3:57pm

 

Stories from the Ground:

Innovations, Collaborations & Victories in Defending the Rights of Sex Workers

Join the HIV PJA Mass Imprisonment & Criminalization Work Group on Thursday May 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET for a unique and powerful community webinar with advocates nationwide sharing their on-the-ground perspective on efforts to defend the rights of sex workers within the United States.

Join the webinar here.

Download a copy of the webinar slides here (PDF).

Having trouble?  Check out this webinar troubleshooting guide for help.

And be sure to check back here for a video recording 24-48 hours after the webinar!

  Read more »

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25 Years Later... Still Acting Up

Submitted by Suraj Madoori on Mon, 04/30/2012 - 1:09am

After 14 years as a member of ACT UP Philadelphia, HIV PJA Staff Member Julie Davids, was among many who commemorated the 25th Anniversary of ACT UP with a march on Wall Street in New York City last week on April 25.

Activists, current and former ACT UP members, PJA allies, PWLHAs, and others - converged upon the financial district, recalling the 1987 direct action where early ACT UP members occupied Wall Street demanding access to treatment and a coordinated policy response to the growing epidemic. A protest that would greatly impact the epidemic by lowering the high price of treatment (AZT) at that time.  Read more »

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On 25 Years of ACT UP: Jim Eigo's Powerful Speech at the "AIDS Activism Now" Panel Presentation

Submitted by Suraj Madoori on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 2:26pm

Recently, HIV PJA steering committee member Che Gossett and HIV PJA staff member Julie Davids spoke at panel presentation entitled AIDS Activism Now at the Village Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center in New York City.  Read more »

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Pushing the Glass Ceiling: Life, Liberty and Justice for HIV+ Women

Submitted by Suraj Madoori on Fri, 04/20/2012 - 12:35pm

This article has been cross-posted from the U.S. Positive Women's Network (PWN) blog, a partner and ally of HIV PJA. To access the original posting and learn more about PWN, please click here.

By Nicole Seguin in Detroit, MI

“Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.”


~ Nelson Mandela, speaking at the launch of Britain’s Make Poverty History campaign

Seven years ago, I sat in an academic advisor’s office so excited and a little nervous. We mapped out the courses I should take. He helped me apply for the Engineering Program at Wayne State University. He handed me an application for the Society of Women and Engineering, an opportunity for a full scholarship. I was on the Dean’s list. He gave me a letter that read you are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society for students attending two year colleges. I couldn’t believe it. After all these years, I was on the verge of being successful. I was so close I could almost taste it. I had it all figured out. I felt so proud of myself, determined to beat the odds. I finally had hope in the future. I was going to be an Engineer. Read more »

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Bridging the Wage Gap: Don’t Hesitate to Tell the Truth That is in Us

Submitted by Suraj Madoori on Fri, 04/20/2012 - 12:48pm

This article has been cross-posted from the Positive Women's Network (PWN) blog, a partner and ally of HIV PJA. To access the original posting and learn more about PWN, please click here.

By Teresa Sullivan, Philadelphia, PA

“The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.”

~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton, U.S. women’s rights activist (1815 – 1902)

I look into my own life and realize that I am still faced with the economic injustice of being over worked and under paid as a women living with HIV This feeling is exacerbated by the slow painful journey to gain a higher position in an organization or any position for equal pay as a woman. Read more »

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Under Surveillance by Medicaid

Submitted by Suraj Madoori on Fri, 04/20/2012 - 12:42pm

This article has been cross-posted from the U.S. Positive Women's Network (U.S. PWN) blog, a partner and ally of HIV PJA. To access the original posting and learn more about U.S. PWN, please click here.

By Kat Griffith in Peoria, IL

I have to go into the Medicaid office every year to get reapproved and reauthorized. I dread it with every fiber of my being. It is a reminder of my place in life. It reminds me that none of my dreams have been achieved and it is a reminder that they most likely never will. Even though I have been HIV-positive for 21 years now, only in the last five years have I had to endure this crushing experience. It always feels the same. But maybe this year is different? I always naively go in hoping for some semblance of empathy or compassion, especially from the worker who handles my “case.” In fact, of all my visits this year’s was the worst. No matter how long I put it off, it doesn’t matter. My life is at stake here, and in this case that is a very literal statement. Read more »

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Sex Worker Project Issues Report on Banning Condoms as Evidence

Submitted by Suraj Madoori on Tue, 04/17/2012 - 9:52pm

 

The Sex Worker Project at the Urban Justice Center in New York City released a report today detailing the effect of law enforcement authorities criminalizing sex workers on the basis of 'condoms as evidence'. The report illustrates how police harassment and confiscation of condoms from sex workers is severely undermining HIV prevention and public health efforts, with sex workers either carrying few condoms or forgoing carrying condoms altogether due to fears of being criminalized. The effect of this law further exacerbates the HIV/AIDS epidemic in a city with prevalence three times higher than that of the national average.

The report represents a critical step in the effort to ban the law that utilizes condoms as evidence for 'probable cause' for criminalizing sex workers. To read in the report in its entirety, click here. 

 

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