As Zero Discrimination Day wrapped up globally on March 1, UNAIDS issued a call for solidarity to eliminate all forms of discrimination and build a more just and equitable society for people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
This year, the observance was held under the theme “We Stand Together.”
Director of the UNAIDS Multicountry Office for the Caribbean, Dr. Richard Amenyah, in a statement issued ahead of the observance, said the theme represents a call to action to reaffirm the organisation’s commitment to a people-centred HIV response. He emphasised that protecting everyone’s rights, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalised, is essential to ensuring universal access to healthcare.
“We can only do this if we pull together, stand together, act together, and solidarise in our community action,” Amenyah stated.
He noted that in the Caribbean, discrimination and inequalities continue to fuel the HIV epidemic, and without addressing these issues, it will be impossible to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 in the region.
“Over 100,000 people living with HIV in the Caribbean are not yet in care and treatment. Civic spaces are shrinking due to pushbacks on gender and human rights issues, as well as reduced funding, which has the potential to reverse our public health successes in the region. In this uncertain landscape, the Caribbean HIV response must remain strategic, focused, and relentless. Many individuals still face harassment, violence, and exclusion from essential services, creating an environment where they are afraid to seek healthcare.
“We cannot stand for the principle of leaving no one behind if we do not stand together as individuals, communities, partners, and nations to solve these challenges through solidarity and mutual collaboration. Already, there are encouraging signs that show it is possible to create a more inclusive, rights-based approach to addressing public health challenges in the Caribbean,” Amenyah noted.
These signs, he added, include successful anti-discrimination campaigns, strengthened community networks, notable victories in securing legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and reforms in HIV transmission and non-disclosure laws.
“But much work remains to be done to end discrimination and human rights violations that continue to fuel the region’s HIV epidemic,” Amenyah stated.
He stressed the need to strengthen legal protection mechanisms to champion human rights in line with the Paris Principles, particularly for the most vulnerable in society.
“Community-led legal advocacy efforts must be supported to protect the rights of marginalised groups. Governments must repeal discriminatory laws that create barriers to accessing HIV services. There needs to be training for healthcare workers, and community sensitization programs must be implemented to prevent HIV-related stigma and discrimination,” Amenyah added, emphasising that sustained investment in community-led responses is crucial to meeting the 2030 HIV targets.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of legal protections for human rights defenders working to advance social justice and public health.
“A people-centred HIV response is critical to ending AIDS in the Caribbean. Communities of people living with and most affected by HIV must be an integral part of the efforts to improve health outcomes. Similarly, policies and programs must consider the needs and priorities of individuals in different settings. We need health and family life education to be evaluated and fully implemented to help reduce HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence.”
To reduce new HIV infections, Amenyah urged governments to expand and increase investments in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), including long-acting HIV prevention methods, and make them accessible to those in need.
He also emphasised the need to reform the healthcare system to provide stigma-free and non-discriminatory care for all.
