Human rights and HIV-positive women

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.