HIV/AIDS and Human Rights: International Guidelines

In 1998 the OHCHR and UNAIDS issued the International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights. Developments in the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment and drops in drug prices led them to review guideline 6 and to more clearly define how access to medication, treatment, care and support a human right. They convened a group of experts and based guideline 6 on the following premises: that prevention, treatment, care and support are a continuum; that access to HIV/AIDS-related treatment is fundamental to realizing the right to health; that ensuring access to medication requires states to address multiple social and economic factors; that international cooperation is needed to ensure equitable access. The new guideline is meant to assist States to design policy and practice to ensure respect for human rights.