Civil society and the NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board are celebrating the adoption of a crucial resolution on human rights in the context of HIV and AIDS at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The 2024 resolution 56/20, « Human Rights in the Context of HIV and AIDS, » highlights the central role of human rights in the HIV response. It reaffirms that the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms is vital for the global HIV response and its sustainability.
The NGO Delegation played a pivotal role in shaping the language of this groundbreaking resolution. Their direct involvement ensured the inclusion of key elements, such as the unqualified recognition of sexual and reproductive health and rights in a UN resolution. The resolution calls for comprehensive education on sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, human rights, and HIV prevention, empowering individuals to protect themselves from HIV infection.
The resolution also underscores the importance of community leadership in ensuring access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services without discrimination. It calls on countries to address discriminatory attitudes, punitive laws, and policies that hinder access to health services and to support community-led organizations while protecting civic space.
The NGO Delegation’s advocacy efforts were instrumental in influencing UN Member States to adopt this resolution. The resolution reflects the targets outlined in the Global AIDS Strategy, emphasizing the need to eliminate stigma, discrimination, and punitive legal frameworks by 2025.
Members of the Human Rights Council expressed concern over the discrimination and violence faced by key populations, affecting their access to health services. The resolution calls for urgent action to ensure non-stigmatizing health services free from legal barriers.
Looking ahead, the resolution tasks OHCHR and UNAIDS with holding a panel at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in 2025 to discuss sustaining and increasing the gains in the HIV response through human rights. This session will generate recommendations for countries and culminate in a report to be presented at the 60th HRC session.
The NGO Delegation commends the leadership of Brazil, Colombia, Portugal, and Thailand for their efforts in achieving consensus on this vital resolution.