Beyond the shadow of stigmaInternal stigma is out of the shadows at AIDS 2024

Deirdre Ni Cheallaigh - CNS
Contd from previous issue
“For us to conquer stigma in the community, we have to first tackle internal stigma. When you know who you are, and know your worth, you can stand up to the community. When you have accepted yourself and seen yourself worthy, you can go and impact that to the community” said Vimbinashe Jazi, Zvandiri CATS and a Wakakosha Programme Coach at 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024).
Journey from internal stigma to self-love and self-worth
Targets of 10-10-10 refers to the promise that by 2025 less than 10% of countries should have punitive legal and policy environments that deny or limit access to services, less than 10% of people living with HIV and key populations will experience stigma and discrimination, and less than 10% of women, girls, people living with HIV, and key populations will experience gender inequality and violence.
The Global Partnership to Eliminate All Forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination has identified six settings where stigma and discrimination are still posing significant barriers to HIV. “Addressing stigma and discrimination is central to the Global AIDS Strategy and its 10-10-10 targets on societal enablers,” said Simone Salome, Human Rights Advisor for UNAIDS and Global Partnership Lead.
The Global Partnership has prioritised and is supporting efforts to reduce internal stigma over the next few years.
“It is time to see beyond stigma, to see what is possible in a world of self-love, self-worth – let’s stop using deficit-based language and reframe our efforts” said Nadine.

Deirdre Ní Cheallaigh – CNS (Citizen News Service)
Shared under Creative Commons (CC)