Human Rights and Hiv-Positive Women

Cook, Rebecca J.; Dickens, Bernard

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Human Rights and Hiv-Positive Women

International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Vol. 77, pp. 55-63, 2002

9 Pages Posted: 20 Nov 2006

See all articles by Rebecca J. Cook

Recent court decisions, for instance in South Africa and Latin America, have held states bound to respect and serve HIV/AIDS patients' human rights to indicated and available medical care. HIV/AIDS is estimated to affect over 36 million people worldwide, including 16.4 million women of reproductive age. In the last 20 years, nearly 58 million people have been infected. This article reviews national responses to mounting concern with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, particularly in China, India and Africa, medical professional responses, notably by the World Medical Association, and international guidelines on human rights responses. These pay special attention to patients' rights to be treated without discrimination. It addresses national and international approaches to advancing HIV prevention, treatment and research on which UNAIDS and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have collaborated. Special issues in clinical care concern abortion services for HIV-positive women, breastfeeding and patients' involvement in research.

Keywords: Human rights and HIV/AIDS, Non-discrimination and HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS patients' rights, Pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, Breastfeeding and HIV/AIDS, National responses to HIV/AIDS, International responses to HIV/AIDS, Medical responses to HIV/AIDS

JEL Classification: I18, K19

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Cook, Rebecca J. and Dickens, Bernard, Human Rights and Hiv-Positive Women. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Vol. 77, pp. 55-63, 2002, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=945715