The UN system has
adopted a comprehensive
workplace policy
on HIV/AIDS that expressly prohibits discrimination
against employees living with HIV.
The UN system has agreed on a
learning strategy on HIV/AIDS (Adobe pdf). One of the goals of the
learning strategy is to ensure that all UN staff members are able to
make informed decisions to protect themselves from HIV and, if they
are infected or affected by HIV, to ensure that they know where to
turn for the best possible care and treatment. This includes
ensuring that staff members fully understand the UN's HIV/AIDS
workplace policies on eliminating stigma and discrimination against
those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The learning strategy mandates that the UN provides employees with orientations
on HIV/AIDS. A
booklet on HIV/AIDS for UN system employees and their
families has been produced to underscore the UN system’s commitment
to fair, equitable and compassionate treatment of all employees,
regardless of their HIV status.
UN HIV/AIDS learning facilitators are bring trained in all countries to ensure
that the learning strategy is implemented under the leadership of
the UN Country Team and UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS at field level.
In headquarters locations, efforts are being made to implement the
strategy in all agencies. For a complete list of the UN HIV/AIDS learning facilitators trained to
date, click here.
‘Caring for Us’
is a UNICEF-initiated programme that now includes UNFPA. Caring for
Us promotes a caring environment for people living with, or affected
by HIV, as well as for staff members affected by other health and
personal issues. Measures to help staff members and their families
cope with illness or death are complemented by learning
opportunities on related topics, such as access to anti-retroviral
therapy (ART).
UNDP’s ‘We Care’
initiative supports the implementation of the UN system’s workplace
policy on HIV/AIDS, ensures protection of the rights of those living
with HIV, and promotes a supportive work environment. We Care
enhances HIV/AIDS awareness among UNDP and other UN system staff
members and facilitates a workplace environment free of
discrimination and stigma.
Launched in 2002,
ACTION (Access, Care, Treatment and Inter-Organizational Needs) is a
joint project of the UN system medical services and UNAIDS. In 10
pilot countries (Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Rwanda,
Senegal, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe), ACTION is mapping locally available resources for care
and support, enhancing local capacity to address HIV/AIDS, and
improving interagency coordination on workplace issues. Benefiting
from the technical expertise of WHO, ACTION purchases ART drugs at
favourable prices and ensures that they are available to UN
employees and dependants who need them. In addition, ACTION
undertakes workplace initiatives to foster a compassionate and
supportive work environment for people living with HIV. It is hoped
that ACTION will eventually extend beyond the initial 10 target
countries.
In several
countries, the UN system has moved beyond agency-specific
initiatives to promote a fair and non-discriminatory workplace. By
consolidating Caring for Us, We Care, and the ACTION initiative, the
UN system has extended targeted HIV/AIDS workplace initiatives to
all UN system staff members working in these countries.
