IDLO's work includes strengthening the legal response to HIV and AIDS in developing nations; fostering awareness of public health goals and human rights among government officials, and among those communities most at risk of HIV infection; and building lawmakers' capacity for reform based on evidence, international law and best practice.
We also work with United Nations agencies to scale up joint efforts towards zero HIV discrimination. Developed in partnership with UNAIDS and UNDP, our Scaling up HIV-Related Legal Services toolkit has been distributed in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian). Separately, we have launched multilingual e-learning courses on HIV Law and Policy.
HIV-Related Legal Services - Guide for University Legal Clinics Uganda
The objective of this handbook is to assist law lecturers, legal clinic managers and law students in Uganda to respond effectively to the HIV epidemic. Effective responses include providing HIV-related legal advice and litigation support; leading in research on HIV-related law and human rights; and advising the government on HIV-related legislation, and the implementation of related laws and policies.
HIV-Related Legal Services - Guide for University Legal Clinics Tanzania (English, Swahili)
The objective of this handbook is to assist law lecturers, legal clinic managers and law students in Tanzania to respond effectively to the HIV epidemic. Effective responses include providing HIV-related legal advice and litigation support; leading in research on HIV-related law and human rights; and advising the government on HIV-related legislation, and the implementation of related laws and policies. Swahili: Huduma Za Kisheria Zinazohusiana Na Vvu - Mwongozo kwa Kliniki za...
20 October, 2020 Legal Empowerment, Social Accountability and HIV Prevention for Young Women and Girls: essons from Tanzania and Uganda reviews IDLO's programming in Tanzania and Uganda which integrated legal empowerment and social accountability strategies to accelerate justice for women and girls. Implemented as part of the DREAMS Innovation Challenge, IDLO's program aimed at reducing new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women by strengthening demand for...
(ENGLISH, ARABIC, SPANISH) This report describes the contribution of IDLO’s HIV and Health Law Program (2009–2017) to ending AIDS in Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa regions. It details six approaches to strengthening legal services, and gives examples from different countries to illustrate how the approaches worked in a real-life setting.
Human rights protections in the law related to HIV and AIDS in Benin 29 June, 2016
As part of IDLO's program in Benin, the Benin Association for Law Development and IDLO, with the support of UNAIDS and OFID (the funding partner), developed the booklet: “Human rights protections in the law related to HIV and AIDS in Benin”. The booklet acts as a law guide for a broad audience in Benin communities, and primarily uses illustrations to communicate HIV/AIDS legal information.
Special Issue on Police, Law Enforcement and HIV
World leaders have committed to ending AIDS by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, but stigma and discrimination remain significant obstacles. In particular, police are critical, front-line determinants of risk for many people living with HIV (PLHIV) and members of other key affected populations (KAPs). The negative impact of adverse police behaviors and practices on HIV risk is well documented, and these risks undermine global efforts to end AIDS. Far less well documented, and less common, are attempts to ameliorate this impact by working t
Guia Sobre VIH Y Derechos Humanos: Para Facilitadores Legales
La promoción y protección de los derechos humanos de las personas que viven con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (PVV) y de las poblaciones clave (las que tienen más probabilidad de exposición al VIH) es una estrategia fundamental para la respuesta mundial al VIH. Además de salvaguardar la dignidad de estos grupos, esta estrategia ha demostrado ser efectiva a la hora de controlar la propagación del virus. En la región, la vulneración de los derechos de las PVV y de las poblaciones clave...
Toolkit: Scaling Up HIV-Related Legal Services (English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian)
The purpose of the toolkit is to provide a practical resource to help to improve the quality and impact of HIV-related legal services and to expand their availability. The toolkit provides guidance on factors to be taken into account when designing and scaling up an HIV-related legal services programme. It also provides guidance about different models and approaches for delivering, monitoring and evaluating HIV-related legal services and gives information about resource mobilization
Adolescent girls and young women account for 71 percent of new HIV infections among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda reflects this disproportionality, with HIV prevalence among young people aged 15-24 estimated at 4.2% for women but only 2.4% for men.
IDLO and partners hosted the Second Regional Consultation on Law Enforcement and the HIV Response in Beirut this week. The consultation was attended by representatives from law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations from seven countries in the region: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Sudan.
Adolescent girls and young women account for 71 percent of new HIV infections among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. They are more vulnerable to HIV because they are often subjected to a range of gender and age based biases, discrimination and violence, including sexual assault, forced marriage and trafficking. Despite growing HIV-related responses, they and their communities most often do not have the capacity, voice and power to hold these service providers accountable for improved delivery of quality HIV-related services.
More than 50 experts, representatives of police-forces, community organizations, and government agencies participated in an International Consultation on Policing, Public Health and Vulnerable Populations, hosted by the Law Enforcement and HIV Network (LEAHN) and co-organized by IDLO in Amsterdam on 1 October 2016.
Following a five-month consultative process led by IDLO, the Municipality of San Pedro Sula has adopted a municipal-level policy on HIV/AIDS in the workplace, becoming the first city in Honduras to do so.
The adoption marks a significant step forward in respecting the rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS.
More than thirty representatives of civil society, human rights groups and international organizations attended an IDLO conference in Colombia, this week, on strengthening and expanding legal services available to people living with HIV and other key population groups in Latin America.
IDLO representatives are participating this week in the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, which is said to be the largest conference on any global health or development issue.
World leaders have committed to ending AIDS by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, but stigma and discrimination remain significant obstacles. In particular, police are critical, front-line determinants of risk for many people living with HIV (PLHIV) and members of other key affected populations (KAPs). The negative impact of adverse police behaviors and practices on HIV risk is well documented, and these risks undermine global efforts to end AIDS. Far less well documented, and less common, are attempts to ameliorate this impact by working to change police behaviors.
It is well recognized that discrimination against people living with HIV and affected populations (such as injecting drug users and women in the sex industry) blocks HIV prevention efforts. Discrimination discourages HIV testing and can limit access to care and treatment services. IDLO is working to provide legal information and representation to HIV-affected and key populations in Benin. Through collaboration with local organizations, IDLO is building local capacity in Benin and strengthening the legal response to help those living with HIV assert their rights and address intolerance.
