Human rights, HIV and health

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia region is home to one of the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world. Regional trends depend a great deal on progress in the Russian Federation, which is home to 70 percent of people living with HIV, followed by Ukraine (15 percent). Only about 44 percent of people living with HIV are on treatment.

Addressing exclusion is a significant way to tackle the increase.

As one of the UN agencies working on HIV and AIDS, UNDP focuses on human rights, stigma and discrimination, HIV prevention among key populations, and investment and efficiency.

To improve access and rights around HIV and health issues, UNDP:

Supports countries with implementing programmes on HIV, TB and malaria, working closely with with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. UNDP is currently the main implementer for HIV and/or TB grants in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan;
Assists countries with applying efficient value-for-money policies and procedures for lowering the cost of drugs and diagnostics to increase access to medicines and services (including such as Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights flexibilities);
Promotes country ownership through the introduction and development of rights based and gender sensitive multi-sectoral AIDS plans; and
Partners with and strengthens regional organizations representing various key populations most at risk of HIV and TB.

A woman receives an HIV test in Ukraine. Photo: Jodi Hilton / UNDP

While there have been significant improvements in the legal environment relevant to HIV and TB in the region, legal barriers persist including criminalization of HIV transmission and exposure, drug use, sex work, same sex relationships.

Through the Being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) in Eastern Europe initiative, co-funded by USAID, UNDP provided a platform for sub-regional inclusive dialogue for government representatives, development partners, national human rights institutions, LGBTI people and other civil society members from 10 different countries to openly discuss key issues and agree on potential solutions. The project led to the development of 4 flagship national LGBTI rights reports for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and Serbia, including a first ever intersex report and Video.

UNDP together with national partners has also conducted HIV and/or TB Legal Environment Assessments (LEAs) in Belarus, Moldova, Tajikistan and Ukraine, supporting countries to better understand the key legal, regulatory and policy barriers for key population and people living with HIV to access essential services and protect their rights.

UNDP supported the establishment of a regional network of judges on HIV, human rights and the law to focus on exchanging experience, expertise and knowledge on how the judiciary can better protect the rights of key populations at higher risk of HIV and people living with and affected by HIV.