HIVWork: addressing stigma

1
HIV_at_Work addressing stigma discrimination

• Delphine Valette
• Senior Policy Officer

2
National AIDS Trust

• The National AIDS Trust (NAT) is the UKs
  leading, independent policy and campaigning voice
  on HIV and AIDS.
• NAT develops policies and campaigns to halt the
  spread of HIV and AIDS and improve the quality of
  life of people affected by HIV, both in the UK
  and internationally.
• NATs three aims are
• To prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS
• To ensure access to treatment for people living
  with HIV
• To challenge HIV-related stigma and
  discrimination.

3
Are YOU HIV Prejudiced?

• The Are YOU HIV Prejudiced? campaign is at the
  core of NATs work on HIV-related stigma and
  discrimination.
• The campaign, launched in 2001, aims to confront
  prejudice and tackle discrimination by providing
  the facts about HIV, educating people about
  HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and
  promoting actions, by government, businesses and
  the community to address the issue.
• The focus of the 2004-05 campaign is stigma and
  discrimination in employment and healthcare.

4
HIV_at_WorkBackground

• There are currently 53, 000 people living with
  HIV in the UK, mostly of working age.
• Due to the success of anti-retroviral treatments,
  more HIV positive people are seeking to enter or
  re-enter the workforce.
• With HIV infections predicted to rise over the
  next decade, this will result in more people
  living with HIV entering the workforce.
• Very often, it is not HIV that prevents people
  from working but the misconceptions and lack of
  knowledge about its modes of transmission and its
  impact on a persons ability to work.
• Employers have a legal obligation to treat people
  infected with HIV fairly.

5
HIV_at_WorkObjectives

• Educate employers on the key facts about HIV
• Educate employers about the causes and impact of
  HIV-related stigma and discrimination
• Raise employersawareness about HIV-related
  issues in the workplace
• Inform employers about their obligations under
  disability discrimination law
• Increase employers confidence on the benefits of
  employing or retaining HIV-positive employees and
  breaking myths about the impact of HIV on the
  business.
• Promote HIV-related actions in the workplace
  (e.g. drafting an HIV policy educating employees
  about HIV, taking part in World AIDS Day etc)

6
HIV_at_WorkActivities Resource Pack

• NAT has produced a resource pack specifically
  designed for employers.
• The pack is a very practical resource aimed at
  raising awareness and promoting actions to
  address and avoid HIV-related stigma and
  discrimination in the workplace.
• HIV_at_Work contains fact files, practical tools, a
  sample of an HIV policy, and various materials.

7
HIV_at_WorkActivities Micro-site

• NAT has developed a micro-site which complements
  the HIV_at_Work resource pack.
• The site contains the pack, interactive features,
  various resources and publications, case studies
  and more information about the campaign.
• The site is primarily for employers but it is
  also relevant to employees and trade unions.
• www.areyouhivprejudiced.org/hivatwork

8
HIV_at_WorkActivities Other Materials

• NAT has also produced
• Stickers
• Prejudice Posters
• A leaflet and a poster endorsed by the Disability
  Rights Commission

9
HIV_at_WorkReaching Employers

• NAT has promoted the HIV_at_Work campaign through
• Support from employers and disability
  organisations, trade unions and other relevant
  organisations (e.g. Confederation of British
  Industry, Disability Rights Commission,
  Employers Forum on Disability, Equality and
  Diversity Forum, Fire Brigade Union, UNESCO)
  which have agreed to promote the resource pack in
  their publications/newsletter/website etc
• Participation at conferences (e.g. TUC
  Conference, CBIs Diversity Conference)
• Advertising/Editorials in relevant magazines
• Distribution of promotional leaflets

10
HIV_at_WorkNext Stage

• NAT is a member of the Positive Futures
  Partnership (PFP) - a group of HIV charities
  committed to supporting and improving the
  employment, education and skills prospects of
  people living with HIV.
• NATs work on HIV-related stigma and
  discrimination in employment will progress
  further in the next year as we will develop
  joined-up initiatives and materials aimed at
  Employers and Trade Unions in partnership with
  Positive Futures.
• Selected key activities
• Ongoing promotion of the HIV_at_Work resource pack
• Fringe Meeting at the September TUC Annual
  Conference
• Conference for employers (with DRC and PFP)-
  October 05
• Conference on HIV and employment (with TUC)-
  November 05

11
HIV_at_Work

• For further info about the campaign,visit
  www.areyouhivprejudiced.org/hivatwork