HIV/AIDS STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION

Early day motion 838, tabled 5 March 2003 by Neil Gerrard (Labour). Signed by 67 members.

That this House notes that some 21 years after the first case of HIV was diagnosed, HIV-related stigma and discrimination remain pervasive that HIV/AIDS discrimination can touch on almost every aspect of a person's life, that HIV/AIDS-related discrimination extends to people perceived to be HIV positive because of their race, sexual orientation, or lifestyle as well as to people associated with people living with HIV/AIDS and that HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination are enemies of public health and threaten the effectiveness of prevention and care programs; further notes that discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, or those assumed to be infected, violates fundamental human rights, in particular the right to be free from discrimination; recognises the need to protect and empower people with HIV/AIDS and population groups particularly vulnerable to HIV infection; further notes that the National HIV and Sexual Health Strategy for England acknowledges the significance of HIV stigma and discrimination; and welcomes the launch of the National AIDS Trust's Public Awareness Campaign on HIV/AIDS, Stigma and Discrimination, Are You HIV Prejudiced? whose aim is to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS and challenge discriminatory attitudes and HIV stigma amongst the general public.

Signatures by party: Labour 48, Liberal Democrat 11, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.