Topic: Rights of HIV-Positive Individuals
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Caroline Sawatzki
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Germany position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
The Federal Republic of Germany believes that HIV/AIDS positive should not face discrepancies in human rights as compared to others. Laws such as those criminalizing lifestyle choices or homosexuality are not decreasing the spread of the viruses, but are in fact contributing to its spread. In certain countries, status can be a contributing factor to various discriminatory acts, ranging from wrongful disclosure to failure to provide medical treatment. The vast social stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS makes it extremely difficult to impose any kind of reform to prevent the blatant violations of rights that occur on a daily basis in nations around the world.
Some acts of discrimination can be rooted in a void of information about the various causes, ways of transmittance, and effects of the virus. With the increasing amount of information readily available pertaining to the dangers associated with the contraction of the HIV/AIDS virus, it seems only logical that such information should be distributed. Unfortunately, individuals with HIV or AIDS are nonetheless discriminated against as a result of their positive status.
While education about HIV/AIDS does make a difference, an imposition of education on nations with a high prevalence of positive persons, or in nations where there is a concern of equality based on status may not be accepted due to the social stigma that still surrounds the subject, or because such impositions may raise a question of national sovereignty. We strongly believe that the UN should ensure that information regarding the virus should be available worldwide, and that the accessibility of such information should be publicized. However, we do not recommend that the United Nations attempt to force education on countries at this time. If facts pertaining to the disease, its causes, and its results are presented at a time when it is culturally appropriate to do so, it may remove some threats to human rights for HIV/AIDS infected individuals.
Germany is fighting HIV/AIDS with programs that emphasize national resources and knowledge. Furthermore, Germany is making efforts to maintain multi-organizational co-operation as an imperative part of the battle for awareness of this virus, working especially with the UN, UNAIDS, WHO, European Union, and Global Fund, and by making monetary donations to assist developing countries in ensuring that they, too, can fill the needs of their HIV/AIDS positive patients in accordance with their rights. Germany feels that nations should be obligated to protect, respect, and fulfill human rights. Countries should be responsible for avoiding abuses of civil rights while also taking steps to prevent such abuse individually and through international assistance.
