HIV organisations issue their demands of future government
Both the Terrence Higgins Trust and National Aids Trust have today released their demands for the future government, urging them to make “key” changes to HIV policy.
The demands of the two trusts are very similar, with both arguing that compulsory sex and relationships education with all sexual orientations and gender identities be introduced. They too press on the need of the next government to ensure the programme is remodelled to include sexual health and HIV content.
Another concern for the two groups is making HIV prevention a national public health priority through increased testing options and more detailed information and accessibility.
Both trusts’ proposals are outlined below:
- Introduce, in the first session of a new UK Parliament, compulsory Sex and Relationships Education for all schools, which is inclusive of young people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and which has appropriate sexual health and HIV content.
- Make HIV prevention a national public health priority, with effective funding, more varied testing options and access to the full range of prevention information and choices for all who need them.
- End HIV stigma in health and social care settings through the training of all NHS and care staff.
- Commit to the Disability Benefits Consortium’s Five Things You And Your Party Can Do For Disabled People, to help ensure that people affected by HIV-related sickness or disability have the support they need.
- Retain the protections set out in the Human Rights Act, which acts as a safeguard to ensure people living with HIV can live a meaningful, safe and fulfilled life.
- Introduce compulsory Sex and Relationships Education for all schools, which is inclusive of young people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and has appropriate sexual health and HIV content – in the first session of the new Parliament.*
3. Make HIV prevention a national public health priority, with effective funding, more varied testing options and access to the full range of prevention information and choices for all who need them.*
- End HIV stigma in the NHS and social care through the training of all NHS and care staff.*
- Ensure that people affected by HIV-related sickness or disability have the support they need by committing to the Disability Benefits Consortium’s Five Things You And Your Party Can Do For Disabled People.
Deborah Gold, chief executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), said, “HIV has already been talked about during the general election but now we need to focus on how we can decrease the number of people getting HIV in the UK.”
The Terrence Higgins Trust, which is the largest HIV and sexual health charity in the UK, have pushed these proposals to give a voice to the 100,000 people in the UK that are currently living with HIV.
“By acting on these key issues the next Government could dramatically reduce both HIV transmission, and the stigma and discrimination that so many of those with HIV face,” said Dr Rosemary Gillespie, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust. “No one can afford to be complacent. We urge voters to challenge candidates on these areas before the election, and hold them to account after they have been elected.”
The charities are urging voters to raise these issues with candidates over the coming weeks before the General Election on May 7th.