The People Living with HIV Stigma Index: UK Initiative 2009

The People Living with HIV Stigma Index provides a tool that will measure and detect changing trends in relation to stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV in the UK. The rigorous quantitative and qualitative research will inform better policies, more effective programs and be an empowering experience for people living with HIV involved in the process.

In the UK, the initiative is being implemented by a group of partners including the Terence Higgins Trust (THT), African HIV Policy Network (AHPN), Positively Women (PCW), International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW) and HIV Scotland. These core partners have all committed to assisting with outreach and engaging diverse community representatives in the implementation process.  Other organisations supporting the core partnership working with the UK rollout of the Index include: National Children’s Bureau; Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+); Joint United Nations Program for HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS. We have also made efforts to work alongside charities working with people with disabilities, the national network of sex workers, and charities working with homeless people. Funding for the UK initiative has been provided by the MAC AIDS Fund (www.macaidsfund.org).

The core principles underpinning The People Living with HIV Stigma Index are that it is a research and advocacy initiative that is by and for people living with HIV. Some of the key areas explored in the research process include the causes of stigma and discrimination; access to work and services; internal stigma; rights, laws and policies; effecting change; disclosure and confidentiality, treatment; having children; and overcoming stigma. The initiative will generate evidence that can better inform and improve policy and practice to address HIV related stigma in the UK.

Dates for interviews:

Glasgow - 24/25/th Aug (THT), 26th (GMH)

Edinburgh - 27/28/29th Aug (Waverley Cares)

Aberdeen, Dundee, Fife and Inverness planned for September

Each of the interviewers involved in the initiative participated in a three-day training held at IPPF (London) on 9-11 May 2009. For more information contact Lucy Stackpool-Moore, the international coordinator of the global initiative, at lstackpoolmoore@ippf.org.