A/HRC/16/69 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 20 December 2010 Original: English Human Rights Council Sixteenth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development The protection of human rights in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present study is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 12/27, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to prepare an analytical study on the steps taken to promote and implement programmes to address HIV/AIDS-related human rights. The study was informed principally by (a) responses to a survey from Governments, United Nations organs, programmes and specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations; and (b) a consultation of Member States, non-governmental organizations and United Nations representatives, held in Geneva on 25 October 2010. Informants reported some success in strengthening human rights elements of national HIV responses, but also many deep and politically difficult challenges yet to be overcome. Protection from HIV-related discrimination is embodied in national AIDS strategies and national laws, but discrimination remains widespread in many sectors of society. Discrimination is linked closely to HIV-related stigma, which is in turn linked to both fear and ignorance regarding modes of transmission of HIV and to association of HIV with behaviours that are criminalized or considered “immoral”. There is increasing knowledge of programmes that can work to reduce HIV-related stigma, however such programmes are often not funded or implemented at a scale necessary to make a significant difference. GE.10-17842 (E) 040111