Stigma is a key obstacle to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support. The People Living with HIV Stigma Index provides a tool that measures and detects changing trends in relation to stigma and discrimination. It is designed to help understand how stigma and discrimination are experienced by people living with HIV. The data the Index provides can be used by the national implementing partners to shape future programme interventions and policy change.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé already uses the advocacy tool: his Letter to partners 2010 issued in February 2010 mentions the roll-outs of the Stigma Index in China and the UK. Results from Belarus, China, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines, United Kingdom, and Zambia are being disseminated at country level.
First results at AIDS 2010
In 2010 the Stigma Index is being rolled-out in Brazil, Cameroon, Estonia, Georgia, Mexico, Moldova, Paraguay, Russian Federation, South Africa, Turkey and Ukraine. Several of the country teams who completed the research component of the Index in 2009 and early 2010, will be presenting results at AIDS 2010 in Vienna.
Visit www.stigmaindex.org to learn more about the Index.
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