FOCUS ON: Human Rights

Despite extraordinary progress against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in the last 15 years, human rights barriers are preventing millions of people from being able to access prevention, treatment and care. People living with HIV and TB still experience stigma and discrimination because of their health status; women and girls confront widespread gender inequality and violence; sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, prisoners, migrants and refugees are being driven away from health care and marginalized by harsh legal and social environments.

Because of human rights barriers, the people most affected by HIV, TB and malaria are often the ones with the poorest access to health services. We will never be able to end the epidemics without addressing these barriers.