"We need to understand why a backlash is there (against HIV, gender equality, democracy and human rights). Progressive forces have made a difference over the years - with feminists fighting for gender equality and embracing other struggles too - such as for LGBTQIAP+ struggles for rights. They have started to be more intersectional and moved away from the rigid lens of gender binary. They accepted that gender is fluid and worked together with gender diverse communities and anti-racist forces - they understood how racism affects us all. The more powerful progressive and feminist forces become, the stronger is the challenge they pose to the 'monopoly of (patriarchal) power' to which men cling," said Winnie Byanyima. May be, this growing people-power is what scared those who may wrongly think they are more privileged and entitled than a majority of others - "which made them use the lens of religion or culture to justify and control power."
"We must keep challenging traditional hierarchies. We have to challenge the laws which exclude people for who they are, or laws which discriminate or criminalise people. My solutions are always about building power of the people," Winnie added.
Remove obstacles to end AIDS in a rights-based manner
It is not just HIV-related stigma and discrimination, but a range of other forms of stigma associated with sex work, gender diversity or people who use drugs for instance, that compound the challenge. Another major obstacle that jolts the HIV response is laws that criminalise people and behaviours.
"We must tackle the discrimination and stigma that is pushing most marginalised people away from lifesaving services. There is a surge in anti-gender and anti-democracy laws and policies in many countries - this is generating fear amongst marginalised communities most-in-need of HIV prevention, testing and treatment. This is also causing fear amongst those heroic people who serve them. When governments announced that they are going to hunt for LGBTQIAP+ people as criminal - simply for who they love or who they say they are - it is not surprising that those people are afraid to enter a clinic and get the help they need to save lives. Governments must decriminalise same sex relations, decriminalise sex work, and must not use a punitive or criminal approach to drug control. They must end the discrimination faced by girls and women which is driving the HIV pandemic especially in Sub-Saharan Africa - girls are three times more vulnerable than boys of the same age to HIV. It is also harmful social norms and inequality in access to education that aggravate the challenge for girls," said Winnie.
Agrees Archbishop Dr Thabo Makgoba of South Africa: "Discriminatory and harmful laws - like the one recently passed in Uganda that attacks people who are different - push them away from lifesaving healthcare, and thus these laws kill."
Apartheid in accessing medicines is unacceptable
"We all are interdependent as latest UNAIDS report shows," said Archbishop Dr Thabo Makgoba of South Africa. "We cannot end AIDS in some places or for some people. We can only end AIDS by ending AIDS everywhere for everyone. So, I call upon the world leaders to take five urgent steps:
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