The right to health and development 2011, para. 38
Paragraph- Paragraph text
- The historical evolution of the response to HIV/AIDS is a good example of a health problem with strong implications for human development contained most effectively by protecting and promoting human rights. Jonathan Mann described three clearly defined phases in the response to the epidemic: the first period concerned discovery of the illness and corresponding uncertainty surrounding its containment, while the second period largely focused on individual risk reduction and behavioural change, accompanied by the use of discriminatory prevention measures justified under a "public health rationale". It was not until the third period, in the late 1980s, that a societal dimension was included in the approach to the disease, and the concept of "vulnerability" arose in identifying barriers to individual control over health. The "traditional" public health approaches initially applied to HIV/AIDS, consisting of information, education and services targeted at changing individuals' behaviour and reducing risk, were effective but ultimately insufficient to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS, not least because they assumed a static social environment.
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
- Reference
- SR Health, Report to the HRC (2011), A/HRC/17/25, para. 38.
- Paragraph number
- 38
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