June 11th 2011
Universal Access and Human Rights for ALL
(Persons Living with HIV)
What is “Universal Access” and “Human Rights”?

Universal Access refers to the ability of all people to have equal opportunity and access to a service or product from which they can benefit, regardless of their social class, ethnicity, ancestry, physical disabilities or illness.

Human Rights refer to the basic rights and freedoms that all humans should be guaranteed, such as the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law.

We talk about Universal Access and Human Rights for all but is it really for all meaning “society” or is it for all meaning “a select few”? If Universal Access and Human Rights are for all why do we treat people living with HIV the way we do, as outcast. Why should this be? When equality is what we fight for, we strive everyday to be treated the same, yet we turn round stigmatizing and discriminating persons living with HIV.

People living with HIV are human beings too and are no different from anyone else, exact for having an illness. They are someone’s mother, sister, daughter, aunty, cousin, friend, father, son, brother, uncle. It isn’t because of one’s a homosexuals, drug user, or sex worker, that they become infected with HIV. Nor are the persons who associate themselves with these persons become infected. Let’s stop for a while ant think of all the babies, children, their mothers or wives who have no association with homosexuals, drug users, or sex workers and become infected with HIV.

HIV shows no consideration for an individual’s race, age, religion, or sexual orientation, nor does it look for differences. Therefore, why do we stigmatize and discriminate against persons living with HIV and treat them as outcast? Let’s put ourselves in their shoes. You become infected with HIV, how would you want to be treated? How would you feel if you were being stigmatized and discriminated against? Persons living with HIV are not the only ones who are affected; however, we “all” are affected whether directly or indirectly. It can affect anyone of us at any given time. What is happening where HIV/AIDS is concerned affects us all.

Ignorance about HIV means that people are frightened and therefore, behave irrationally. Thus the reason why we as a society blame certain individuals or groups and excuse ourselves from the responsibility of caring for and looking after persons living with HIV.

Human rights are inalienable: you cannot lose these rights any more than you can cease being a human being. Human rights are indivisible: you cannot be denied a right because it is "less important" or "non-essential." Human rights are interdependent: all human rights are part of a complementary framework. For example, your ability to participate in your government is directly affected by your right to express yourself, to get an education, to obtain the necessities of life and even to live.

Human rights is those basic standards without which people cannot live in dignity. To violate someone’s human rights or prevent universal access to someone is to treat that person as though she or he were not a human being. To advocate human rights and to grant universal access is to demand that the human dignity of all people be respected.

In claiming human rights and universal access for all, everyone also accepts the responsibility not to infringe on the rights of others and to support those whose rights are abused or denied.

All individuals have the right to equality, equal opportunity, fair treatment and an environment free of stigma and discrimination.

Written By:
Samantha Alexander
Youth Officer
St. Lucia Planned Parenthood Association

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