They are your rights, assert them

"Let’s all assume the share of responsibility that is due to us"

Those of us who are going to vote wonder

¿What do POLITICAL CANDIDATES propose on this issue?

The emergence of HIV - AIDS in the world of human relations and in the exercise of sexual practices has generated and continues to generate an unprecedented impact on all the various spheres of social life. The emergence of this infection burst in to the public life bringing to light what centuries of civilization and culture had tried to conceal, repress and censor: human sexuality. With AIDS in the world, it was hard to hide or try to ignore that sexual unions between human beings transcended the boundaries of marriage, heterosexual relationships and reproductive purposes. It disclosed the fact that sexuality happens between people of the same sex, of diverse sex and gender, through different practices, options and tastes, and within and among people from all social classes, ethnic groups, races, educational levels, beliefs and customs. Transgressing restrictions and limitations imposed by religions or ideologies.

At the beginning, the infection was connected to “at-risk populations”, and associated to homosexual practices, “promiscuous” relationships and/or prostitution. However, the pandemic currently affects people living in conditions of vulnerability and is increasing progressively among the young, heterosexual and female population. In other words, the majority of the population can be exposed to the transmission of the virus.

The policies and practices that have attempted to deal with the situation through terrifying discourses or associating pleasure to risk, have proven to be both ineffective and generators of prejudice and discriminations situations. The spread of the infection has gone hand in hand with the stigmatization of the people suffering it, those who share their lives with them and all those who may have a behavior that is “contrary to morals and propriety”. The reaction of the organized civil society, the denunciation of these facts and the changes generated at the level of the institutions responsible on national and international levels has brought as a result the generation of actions aimed at reverting the situation.

Through the coordinated efforts of different stakeholders we intend to implement changes that, on one hand, enable the availability of human and financial resources for the development of comprehensive counseling, prevention, care and treatment policies, while working towards cultural changes that are based on a foundation of knowledge, respect and guarantee of the conditions for all people, including those living with HIV, to live a decent life and exercise all of their rights.

For years there were vertical programs that attempted to deal with the problem which have failed at halting both the infection and the stigma. Therefore, the tendency is increasingly to work in coordination among those dealing with sexual and reproductive health, those who have gained experience in HIV – AIDS and among those promoting gender equality and respect for human rights. This comprehensive approach for dealing with complex situations is the new paradigm of intervention involving the United Nations system, the work of governments, civil society organizations, interpersonal relations, and the treatment of individual problems.

Tackling the pandemic will only be possible to the extent that we all assume the share of responsibility that is due to us.