HIV & HUMAN RIGHTS
The WHO Constitution has defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” This state of human well being has been guaranteed as a human right through a number of international human rights treaties (The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,The Convention on the Rights of the Child, The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW),The African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights, he European Convention on Human Rights.) Although health was first articulated as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a more detailed articulation of this right was set forth in Article 12 of the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination reaffirmed these rights further.
Turning to the history of HIV/AIDS, the late 70’s doctors began to recognize a new pattern of illnesses . In 1981 – AIDS was recognized as a syndrome (a group of symptoms emerging from a common cause) of illnesses. In 1983 – HIV was identified. In 1984 – HIV was isolated in France and the United States. In 1985 – HIV semen antibody test for the diagnosis of HIV became available. Human Immune Deficiency Virus”is a retrovirus which attacks the immune system, which helps defend the body against infections. Over a period of time, the virus overwhelms the immune system. The body is then not able to successfully defend itself from opportunistic infections.
I am surprised to see that one subject not being discussed in India's current election campaign was AIDS. Yet, on the most conservative of estimates, 600,000 Indians already have the disease and 4.58m are infected with HIV, the virus that causes it. That means India ranks second only to South Africa in terms of its number of infections—and that with only about 0.9% of the adult population HIV-positive, compared with over 20% in South Africa. If India's rate were to rise by just a few percentage points, not only would millions more Indians be condemned to live with—or, more likely, die of—AIDS, but so would millions of their neighbors. And I feel heart broken and helpless though hundred of committed social work are doing their best to spread the awareness about HIV/AIDS, but young people are still feel stigmatized to raise their voices to protect future generation.
The rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has led to an infringement of the human rights of men, women and children affected by the epidemic in various ways The impact of HIV/AIDS has permeated the social, cultural and economic fabric of many Nations. With no known cure, it is devastating those countries least able to cope. At the end of 2003, 40 million people were infected with the virus. HIV/AIDS is shortening lives, and destroying families, communities and national economies. In 2003, 4.2 million people became infected; 700,000 of these were children. Once the future generation is lost in the beginning, we have to suffer for ages to developed Human resources. Without increased resources and action, at current infection rates it is estimated that by 2010 there will be an additional 45 million people living with HIV/AIDS, of which more than 3.4 million will be children under 15These figures represent an unacceptable and largely preventable pandemic. HIV/AIDS has eroded many of the hard won gains in lowering rates of infant and child illness and death, and in those areas hardest hit, a doubling in child mortality by 2010 is predicted. 50 per cent of all orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. Although exact figures are unknown, it is predicted that by 2005 over one in five of all children under 15 in sub-Saharan Africa will have lost either one or both parents, the majority to AIDS. For me each single life has his own value and contribution to the sustainable development and here we are ignoring and playing with millions of lives, just being silence which lead to ignorance. The most harmful weapon of destruction and hurdle of development.
Conclusion
People living with HIV/AIDS, their friends and relatives, their communities, national and international policy- and decision makers, health professionals, and the public at large all, to varying degrees, understand the fundamental linkages between HIV/AIDS and human rights. The importance of bringing HIV/AIDS policies and programs in line with international human rights law is generally acknowledged but, unfortunately, rarely carried out in reality. Policymakers, program managers, and service providers must become more comfortable using human rights norms and standards to guide and limit the actions taken by or on behalf of governments in all matters affecting the response to HIV/AIDS. This requires genuine attention to building their capacity to recognize and promote the synergy between health and human rights and to appreciate more fully the potential gains when health interventions are guided by human rights principles. Those involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy must become more familiar with the practicalities of genuinely using international human rights law when they strive to hold governments accountable. For human rights to remain relevant to legal and policy work in HIV/AIDS, the contact between the conceptual work being done on the linkage between HIV/AIDS and human rights and the realities faced by those working in advocacy and in policy and program design must be ongoing; it is the mutually supportive--although occasionally mutually challenging--interaction between these groups that will help keep this work vital and useful.
Finally, concern with the events of September 11, 2001, and its aftermath has begun to threaten recent commitments to HIV/AIDS by the U.S. government and other donor countries. It is critical that these crises not be pitted against one another in the context of public opinion and discourse, political and legal commitments, or the allocation of financial and technical resources. To control the HIV/AIDS pandemic and mitigate its impact require action not only within a country's own borders but also in line with international human rights obligations through its engagement in international assistance and cooperation. Sustained commitment is critical to the future of the HIV/AIDS epidemics around the world.
Being the great optimistic, and always had dream of HIV/AIDS free world. I still believe HIV is small tiny “stupid” virus, which spread because we allow him to do so.