The Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

The Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), C.H.R. res. 1999/49, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/RES/1999/49 (1999).

The Commission on Human Rights,

Recalling its resolution 1997/33 of 11 April 1997 and other relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by organizations of the United Nations system, as well as by other competent forums,

Welcoming the fact that many positive steps in implementing its previous resolutions have been taken, including the enactment of legislation in some countries to promote human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS and to prohibit discrimination against persons infected or presumed to be infected and members of vulnerable groups,

Encouraging the continuation of national, regional and international consultations in the field of HIV/AIDS and human rights,

Noting with concern that in 1998 virtually every country in the world had new cases of HIV infection and that, according to estimates by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization, in 1998 the number of people living with HIV increased to 33.4 million, the number of people newly infected with HIV was 5.8 million and the number of people who died from AIDS was 2.5 million,

Noting with particular concern that, according to estimates by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization, more than 95 per cent of all people infected with HIV live in the developing world, which has also experienced 95 per cent of all deaths to date from AIDS, that this is largely due to the absence of access - in conditions of poverty, underdevelopment, conflict and other problems - to appropriate measures for prevention, treatment and care, and that implementation of effective strategies for prevention, treatment and care is critically needed,

Noting the devastating economic impact of HIV/AIDS, including increased mortality and morbidity among the workingage population, losses in family income, greater numbers of orphans and higher health and social costs,

Emphasizing, in view of the increasing challenges presented by HIV/AIDS, the need for intensified efforts to ensure universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and to prevent HIV/AIDS-related discrimination and stigma,

Concerned that lack of full enjoyment of human rights by persons suffering from economic, social or legal disadvantage heightens the vulnerability of such persons to the risk of HIV infection and to its impact, if infected,

Also concerned that, in many countries, many people infected and affected by HIV, as well as those presumed to be infected, continue to be discriminated against in law, policy and practice,

Welcoming the significant role of UNAIDS in cooperation with relevant bodies of the United Nations system, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and of national and international non-governmental organizations, in particular organizations of people living with HIV/AIDS, in promoting and protecting human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, including fighting discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, and in the full range of prevention, treatment and care activities,

Reiterating that discrimination on the basis of HIV or AIDS status, actual or presumed, is prohibited by existing international human rights standards, and that the term "or other status" in non-discrimination provisions in international human rights texts should be interpreted to cover health status, including HIV/AIDS,

Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the protection of human rights in the context of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (E/CN.4/1999/76), which provides an overview of the opinions of Governments, specialized agencies and international and non-governmental organizations on the Guidelines recommended by the experts participating in the Second International Consultation on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights (E/CN.4/1997/37, annex I), their dissemination and implementation, and which addresses the issue of technical cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS,

1. Invites States, United Nations organs, programmes and specialized agencies and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the respect, protection and fulfilment of HIV-related human rights as contained in the Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights and to contribute to international cooperation in the context of HIV/AIDS-related human rights, inter alia through the sharing of knowledge, experience and achievements concerning HIV-related issues;

2. Invites States to strengthen national mechanisms for protecting HIV/AIDS-related human rights and to take all necessary measures to eliminate stigmatization of and discrimination against those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, especially for women, children and vulnerable groups, so that infected persons who reveal their HIV status, those presumed to be infected and other affected persons are protected from violence, stigmatization and other negative consequences;

3. Invites States, United Nations organs, programmes and specialized agencies and international and non-governmental organizations to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and those in Africa, in their efforts to prevent the spread of the epidemic and alleviate and control the detrimental impact of HIV/AIDS on the human rights of their populations;

4. Urges States to ensure that their laws, policies and practices respect human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, prohibit HIV/AIDS-related discrimination, promote effective programmes for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, including through education and awareness-raising campaigns and improved access to high-quality goods and services for preventing transmission of the virus, and promote effective programmes for the care and support of persons infected and affected by HIV, including through improved and equitable access to safe and effective medication for the treatment of HIV infection and HIV/AIDS-related illnesses;

5. Requests States to establish coordinated, participatory, transparent and accountable national policies and programmes for HIV/AIDS response and to translate national policies to district level and local action, involving in all phases of development and implementation nongovernmental and communitybased organizations and people living with HIV/AIDS;

6. Also requests States to develop and support services, including legal aid where appropriate, to educate people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS about their rights and to assist them in realizing their rights;

7. Further requests States to take all the necessary steps, including appropriate education, training and media programmes, to combat discrimination, prejudice and stigma, and to ensure the full enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS;

8. Requests States, in consultation with the relevant national professional bodies, to ensure that codes of professional conduct, responsibility and practice respect human rights and dignity in the context of HIV/AIDS, including access to care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS;

9. Also requests States to develop and support appropriate mechanisms to monitor and enforce HIV/AIDS-related human rights;

10. Invites the human rights treaty bodies, when considering reports submitted by States parties, to give particular attention to HIV/AIDS-related rights and invites States to include appropriate HIV/AIDS-related information in the reports they submit to the relevant treaty bodies;

11. Requests all special representatives, special rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission, inter alia the special rapporteurs on the right to education, on the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression, on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to integrate the protection of HIV-related human rights within their respective mandates;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the United Nations organs and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies and Member States, to integrate HIV-related human rights into their policies, programmes and activities, including those involving regional intergovernmental human rights and other bodies, and to involve non-governmental and communitybased organizations in all phases of development and implementation, to help ensure a system-wide approach, stressing the coordinating and catalytic role of UNAIDS;

13. Also requests the Secretary-General to solicit comments from Governments, United Nations organs, programmes and specialized agencies and international and non-governmental organizations on the steps they have taken to promote and implement, where applicable, the Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and human rights and the present resolution, and to submit, in consultation with interested parties, a progress report for consideration at its fiftyseventh session.
56th meeting
27 April 1999
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIV.]