A/HRC/41/27
mandate of WHO was to ensure people-centred health care for everyone, including
marginalized and overlooked groups of people. He reported that people living with HIV
continued to face discrimination, including within the health sector, which prevented them
from having access to HIV health services. According to Dr. Ren, “put simply,
discrimination kills”. WHO supported the Global Partnership and would lead in addressing
discrimination in the health sector, since universal health coverage would not be achieved
while people were still marginalized, criminalized, stigmatized or denied access to health
services for any reason. The Sustainable Development Goals offered a platform on which to
improve health outcomes and to transform the health systems on which billions of people
depended. He also highlighted Human Rights Council resolution 38/8, in which the Council
urged States to bring their laws, policies and practices, including HIV strategies and other
health-related Sustainable Development Goals, fully into compliance with their obligations
under international human rights law. WHO was currently coordinating the development of
a global action plan for healthy lives and well-being for all, with human rights and the right
to health at its heart, to promote collaboration and accelerate progress in health
determinants.
7.
During the general debate, representatives of the European Union, Brazil, Portugal,
the Gambia, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the
International Network of People Who Use Drugs and Aidsfonds took the floor. All speakers
pointed out that HIV was not only a health issue, but also a human rights issue, and
highlighted the centrality of human rights in the response to HIV.
8.
The representative of Brazil expressed its commitment to fighting stigma,
discrimination and prejudice, and highlighted its focus on key populations. The
representative of Portugal stressed that HIV would not be eliminated by 2030 if human
rights were not the cornerstone of universal health coverage and the Sustainable
Development Goals. The representative of the Gambia called upon the international
community to step up its advocacy, and invited pharmaceutical companies to support the
response to HIV through corporate social responsibility. The European Union affirmed its
commitment to the promotion of human rights in the response to HIV, including through its
global investment on non-discriminatory HIV initiatives and programmes, and also through
its continued support for the Global Fund.
9.
The representative of the Global Fund explained that its commitment to human
rights was one of its objectives in its strategy for the period 2017–2022. Over the past two
years, the Global Fund had provided support to 20 countries, having dedicated a total of
$77.3 million to addressing human rights-related barriers to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria,
which represented a tenfold increase over the period 2014–2016. The representative of
UNDP stressed that the response to HIV would not be effective or efficient without an
environment that respected, promoted and fulfilled human rights for all, and recalled the
recommendations made by the Global Commission on HIV and the Law.
10.
The representative of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation called for
prevention measures and for lowering new infections among adolescent girls by granting
full access to testing and treatment services, reviewing laws on the age of consent that
prevented access, and encouraging longer schooling for girls. The International Network of
People Who Use Drugs called for decriminalizing sex work and drug use. Aidsfonds
highlighted the strong linkages between health and human rights, and the essential role of
local communities.
III. Summary of the proceedings
A.
Ending AIDS by 2030: human rights in the response to HIV, challenges
and opportunities
11.
The panel comprised the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Dr. Dainius
Pūras; Dr. Stefan Baral, physician epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore,
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