PURPOSE: Zero Discrimination Day observed on 1 March highlights the urgent need to take action to end inequalities surrounding income, sex, age, health status, occupation, disability, sexual orientation, drug use, gender identity, race, class, ethnicity and religion that are prevalent around the world. States have a moral and legal obligation to remove discriminatory laws and to enact laws that protect people from discrimination. Everyone has a responsibility to hold states accountable, call for change and contribute to efforts to remove discriminatory laws.
FORUM: “To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.” Zero Discrimination Day 2024. We can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected. The world has made great progress towards the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. That progress has been powered by progress in protecting human rights. But laws, policies and practices that punish, discriminate against and stigmatize women and girls, key populations, and other marginalized communities violate human rights and obstruct access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. Read press statement: On the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day UNAIDS calls for the protection of human rights as a path to protecting health for all; There is an urgent need to remove laws which harm people’s rights and to bring in laws which uphold the rights of every person. The path that ends AIDS is a rights path. The recent, well-coordinated and well-funded global push back against women’s rights, against the human rights of LGBTQ people, against sexual and reproductive health and rights, against democracy and against civic space is not only a threat to everyone’s freedom, it is a threat to everyone’s health. In response to this threat, the AIDS movement and allies are “pushing back against the push back, reminding world leaders of their commitments to uphold all human rights for all people. As communities across the world stand up for rights, the United Nations is not only on their side but by their side. We know the way that will allow all individuals to enjoy their human rights and reach their full potential in health, dignity and well-being. So, let’s make it happen! Let’s join forces for an unstoppable partnership. Join the Global Partnership today.Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #March1, #zerodiscriminationday, #Zerodiscrimination.
EVENTS: March 1st marks Zero Discrimination Day 2024 and the tenth anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day. Upholding everyone’s rights is the responsibility of us all. Everyone can play a part in ending discrimination. On 1 March, and across the whole month of March, events, activities and messages will remind the world of this vital lesson and call to action: to protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights. The EU region and partner countries have addressed HIV-related rights violations, societal barriers, including laws and policies, stigma and discrimination that fuels the AIDS pandemic. To date, 29 countries, none of which are EU member states, have joined the Global Partnership on assisting countries in achieving the 10–10–10 targets by removing laws that harm and creating laws that empower.
STATEMENTS: “Through upholding rights for all, we will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and to secure a safer, fairer, kinder, and happier world – for everyone.” Message from Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, on Zero Discrimination Day 2024, March 1st.
PUBLICATIONS: Read the FACTS ABOUT HIV CRIMINALIZATION.
The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 set as a target that less than 10% of countries would criminalise sex work, possession of small amounts of drugs, same-sex sexual activity, and HIV exposure, non-disclosure and transmission.
Impact on the ground: Reaching the Global AIDS Strategy's 10-10-10 targets within the Global Partnership’s six settings. Read the Global partnership for action to eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination (PDF).
PODCASTS: Some national laws and sanctions violate international human rights norms and stigmatize and discriminate against already marginalized populations. Decriminalisation saves lives and helps advance the end of the AIDS pandemic. Listen the audio-Podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Participate to the Zero Discrimination Day 2024 by joining the campaign “To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.”. Together we can end HIV-related stigma, discrimination, inequalities and AIDS by 2030. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
On Zero Discrimination Day, March 1st, we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity and free from discrimination. Zero Discrimination Day started with a focus on HIV to highlight how people can become informed about and promote the rights of people living with and affected by HIV.
By Recognizing decriminalization as a critical element in the response, countries made a commitment that by 2025 less than 10% of countries would have punitive legal and policy environments that affect the HIV response.
In recent years it has expanded to focus on ending all forms of discrimination that impact on quality of life, health and well-being.
GET INVOLVED!
The health sector has a critical role to play through generating data on how stigma and discrimination impacts populations most affected by HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections. The health sector also plays an important convening role for multisectoral partnerships to address the broader determinants of health.
It is vital to address stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings, including for men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who use drugs, people in prison and transgender people to end epidemics of HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Equitable, quality and person centred health services require health care staff who are compassionate and non-judgemental experts.
Change starts with awareness. Take the interactive quiz to test your knowledge about the criminalization of HIV.
PARTNERSHIPS
The Day is , co-organized by the World Health Organization (WHO); the PAHO/WHO; the UNAIDS; The Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate all Forms of HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination (Global Partnership), brought together high-level speakers who are passionate about ending discrimination in the European Union (EU) and beyond.
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UNAIDS is highlighting the urgent need to take action to end the inequalities surrounding income, sex, age, health status, occupation, disability, sexual orientation, drug use, gender identity, race, class, ethnicity and religion that continue to persist around the world.