UN offers tips for community groups to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS

Seeking to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS, two United Nations agencies have joined forces to produce a new brochure highlighting the linkage between the virus and issues related to human rights.

The pamphlet, put out by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), provides tips for grassroots groups on how to organize public awareness campaigns to fight discrimination in the community. It also contains information on talking about HIV/AIDS and respecting freedom of thought and religion. A separate section deals with promoting equal access to drugs and medical treatment.

The brochure also provides international guidelines on HIV/AIDS and human rights, answers frequently asked questions about the disease, and details a number of successful community group experiences in different countries.