Ipas > Bill of Rights launched to commemorate International Women's Day

Bill of Rights launched to commemorate International Women's Day

March 7, 2003

In July 2002, an international coalition of scientists, researchers, activists, service providers and women living with HIV/AIDS drafted a Bill of Rights regarding women and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The document was presented to and discussed with delegates to the XIV International Conference on AIDS in Barcelona and subsequently revised. The Barcelona Bill of Rights is intended to serve as a tool for advocacy, action and monitoring progress regarding women's rights in this crucial field of health. Individuals and organizations who wish to become signatories to the Bill should contact Mabel Bianco, FEIM, Argentina, coordinator of the Women's Caucus of the International AIDS Society FEIM, Argentina, e-mail feim@ciudad.com.ar; please use the subject line: Signatory to Barcelona Bill of Rights.

Women And HIV/AIDS: The Barcelona Bill Of Rights

As we enter the third decade of HIV/AIDS, women, especially the young and the poor, are the most affected. Because gender inequality fuels the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is imperative that women and girls speak out, set priorities for action and lead the global response to the crisis. Therefore, women and girls from around the world unite and urge all governments, organizations, agencies, donors, communities and individuals to make our rights a reality.

Women and girls have the right:

To live with dignity and equality.
To bodily integrity.
To health and healthcare, including treatment.
To safety, security and freedom from fear of physical and sexual violence throughout their lives.
To be free from stigma, discrimination, blame and denial.
To their human rights regardless of sexual orientation.
To sexual autonomy and sexual pleasure.
To equity in their families.
To education and information.
To economic independence.

These fundamental rights shall include, but not be limited to the right:

To support and care which meets their particular needs.
To access acceptable, affordable and quality comprehensive healthcare including antiretroviral therapies.
To sexual and reproductive health services, including access to safe abortion without coercion.
To a broader array of preventive and therapeutic technologies that respond to the needs of all women and girl regardless of age, HIV status or sexual orientation.
To access user-friendly and affordable prevention technologies such as female condoms and microbicides with skills building training on negotiation and use.
To testing after informed consent and protection of the confidentiality of their status.
To choose to disclose their status in circumstances of safety and security without the threat of violence, discrimination or stigma.
To live their sexuality in safety and with pleasure irrespective of age, HIV status or sexual orientation.
To choose to be mothers and have children irrespective of their HIV status or sexual orientation.
To safe and healthy motherhood for all, including the safety and health of their children.
To choose marriage, form partnerships or divorce, irrespective of age, HIV status or sexual orientation.
To gender equity in education and lifetime education for all.
To formal and informal sexual education throughout their lives.
To information, especially about HIV/AIDS, with an emphasis on women and girls' special vulnerability due to biological differences, gender roles and inequality.
To employment, equal pay, recognition of all forms of work including sex work and compensation for care and support.
To economic independence such as to own and inherit property, and to access financial resources.
To food security, safe water and shelter.
To freedom of movement and travel irrespective of HIV status.
To express their religious, cultural and social identities.
To associate freely and be leaders within religious, social and cultural institutions.
To lead and participate in all aspects of politics, governance, decision-making, policy development and program implementation.

- XIV International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain 11 July 2002
A global effort initiated by Women at Barcelona and Mujeres Adelante with lead involvement by the International Women 's AIDS Caucus of the International AIDS Society and the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS.

Signatories:

The Living Together Project, South Africa
Mirembe Project
Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India (SAATHI)
SWAA
Global AIDS Action Network (GAAN)
Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)
IRIS House
Schell Center for International Human Rights at Yale University Law School
Creacion Positiva
Tsa-Botsogo, South Africa
APCASO
Latin American Harm Reduction Network (RELARD)
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
WORLD
Positive Women, Victoria, Australia
The Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe
Alliance for Microbicide Development
NAPWA/South Africa
Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC)
Enlace Nacional e Internacional del Frente Nacional de Personas Afectadas por el
VIH/SIDA (FRENPAVIH) México
Ipas

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258