Day 12/16: Stigma, discrimination and poor attitudes in health care facilities

Healthcare is one of the many settings where women living with HIV experienceviolence, abuse and lack of respect for their rights. A UK study carried out byPositively Women found that while 96% of women living with HIV surveyed wereregistered with a general medical practitioner (GP), 60% would not tell theirGP about their HIV status because of the fear of judgmental treatment orbreaches of confidentiality, while 33% felt their HIV status prevented themfrom accessing good GP care[1]. Sex workers living with HIV,drug users living with HIV, and young women living with HIV face particularforms of violent treatment in health care settings because of, among other reasons, their sexual orientation, occupation, status at birth and their age.

Call to Action: Governments

Adopt indicators that demonstrate leadership and the implementation of international aspirations, progressive lawswere registered and policies that protect women and girls against violence and enhance equitable health development.

Call to action: Adolescent Girls & Young Women; Women living with HIV

Amplify your Voice, Orange the World, demand for human rights protection and elimination f stigma and discrimination of women living with HIV in all our diversity.  Join us at #WLHIVSPEAKOUT; Join the Global Campaign (Orange the World,#HearMeToo)

[1] Petretti, (2009). Title not available. p.4.