By Kath Smithson

Alongside Positively UK and NAM aidsmap, we’re partnering with Fast Track Cities London to create and deliver a new anti-stigma HIV charter. In 2021, our HIV: public knowledge and attitudes report showed just how entrenched HIV stigma is, and how continued failure to break down prevailing misconceptions and stereotypes drives itt.

“Stigma can have a harmful impact on the emotional health of those of us who live with HIV. It creates barriers to HIV testing and treatment, which hampers efforts to prevent new cases.”

Matthew Hodson, Executive Director, NAM aidsmap

Tackling HIV stigma is essential to protect people living with HIV from discrimination, ensure wellbeing and to reach the government’s target of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.

Organisations, as public service providers and employers, have a pivotal role – supporting fair access and providing vital platforms for information and knowledge exchange on HIV that has wider societal benefits.

Drawing on the strengths of our partnership, we’ll work with people living with HIV, the wider HIV sector, the NHS, councils and many more, to develop an impactful charter programme that leads to an accreditation people can trust. We aim to:

1. Increase knowledge about HIV,
2. improve attitudes towards people living with HIV,
3. tackle stigma and discrimination within organisations and cities, and
4. provide people living with HIV a way to report stigma and discrimination they experience in an organisation.

Intrinsic to the charter will be the opportunity for frontline public services, starting in London and with initial focus on healthcare, to enter the programme and apply for accredited HIV ‘friendly’ status. All people in London will also have access to a free online training package to increase understanding and fight stigma.

“Much of the stigma that people living with HIV experience is based on inaccurate or out of date information about HIV,” said Matthew Hodson, Executive Director at NAM aidsmap. “Stigma creates barriers to accessing other health care which is why it is vital to ensure healthcare services provide a supportive, sensitive and welcoming environment for patients and staff who live with HIV.

“I am hopeful that through the HIV Friendly Charter scheme we will be able to create organisational change to better support staff and service users, not just in healthcare but also in charitable and commercial organisations across London and beyond.”

As an organisation led and run by people with HIV, Positively UK know the negative impact that stigma can have on health and wellbeing and the importance of making people feel safer using services. Silvia Petretti, Chief Executive at Positively UK, said: “Internalised and anticipated stigma fuels poor mental health and can create a sense of being disconnected even from those closest to us, let alone the services that we may need to access.”

To truly create organisations that are perceived as HIV friendly, the approach must be root and branch with clear buy-in from the top of these institutions to enter into a process against which they can be held to account.

As well as supporting organisations to put in place policy and practice to prevent discrimination, we’ll work with them to enhance understanding among their staff of how HIV affects real people and communities. This draws on what we know about how to reduce stigma, which requires the breaking down of boundaries between groups and individuals.

As Silvia explained: “We want to contribute our real faces and stories, so that institutions, organisations, and all the people that work for them are able to fully integrate and meet the needs of people with HIV.” You can join us to fight HIV stigma and be kept in the loop on ways you can shape the charter or get involved.