Time to read
Sunday 21st July is Zero HIV Stigma Day. HIV related stigma can be experienced at an individual, organisation, and/or societal level. In this blog, Daron Oram, senior programme manager at National AIDS Trust, talks about HIV Confident, a new charter mark designed to help tackle stigma in organisations and institutions.
What is HIV Confident?
HIV Confident is a new charter mark that has been developed by a partnership of National AIDS Trust, Positively UK, and aidsmap, and funded by Fast Track Cities, London, as part of their work to tackle HIV Stigma.
When an organisation signs up to HIV Confident, they make a commitment to ensure that people living with HIV can work for them or access their services without fear of discrimination and with confidence. HIV Confident members commit to:
- Increase employee knowledge about HIV,
- Improve employee attitudes towards people living with HIV,
- Tackle stigma and discrimination within their organisation, and
- Provide people living with HIV a way to report any stigma or discrimination they experience.
Why is HIV Confident important?
Stigma seriously impacts on the quality of life and psychological wellbeing of people living with HIV and is a significant barrier to achieving the goal of zero new infections by 2030. In the most recent Positive Voices survey one in eight people revealed that they had never told anyone about their HIV status apart from healthcare staff, and the proportion of people with HIV who reported symptoms of mental ill health was 28% compared to 19% in the general population.
Fears of stigma and discrimination can discourage people from accepting HIV testing, engaging with HIV care and adherence, and accessing other kinds of support. By becoming HIV Confident, organisations can ensure that their employees and service users will be welcome and respected. The HIV Confident logo can be used to show that an organisation has taken meaningful steps to challenge stigma and discrimination, and that they have a clearly identified process for reporting and responding to any stigma that people do experience.
Who can become HIV Confident?
Any organisation in the UK can register to become HIV Confident. We are currently in the pilot phase of the programme. Our first pilot has been with NHS Trusts and GP Practices as we know that fears of stigma in healthcare can stop people accessing care, even when they need it. We are now beginning a second phase of work with corporate organisations. We also plan to work with local authorities, adult social care providers, the police and prisons, and in education settings.
How does an organisation become recognised as being HIV Confident?
The initial stage is to make the commitment. This needs to be done by a senior leader within the organisation, often the CEO. They will need to appoint a senior lead to oversee the programme as it will need co-ordination between communications teams, policy teams, and Human Resources. After the initial commitment, the organisation will survey their staff to understand existing knowledge and attitudes around HIV. We provide surveys tailored to the setting of each organisation.
Following the survey, staff are engaged with a short (25 minute) eLearning package that builds knowledge and confidence around HIV. The eLearning features films of people living with HIV, moments of reflection and interactive elements and quizzes. Alongside this training component the organisation will take itself through a policy review process to help check that their employment and recruitment policies adhere to equalities and data protection legislation. We also make a series of best practice recommendations and help organisations to review any policies that might impact on any service users living with HIV.
The final stage is for the organisation to appoint an HIV Confident Champion to support staff and any service users living with HIV, and to put in place a clear process for reporting stigma or discrimination that may be experienced. At this point, the organisation will submit their application for recognition, which we will review; and, all being well, we will then recognise the organisation as being HIV Confident. This is followed by an annual review process.
Are there any fees involved?
There is a sliding scale of fees depending on the size and sector of an organisation. As an HIV Confident member, organisations financial contributions will help to ensure the sustainability of the charter mark and support the reach of the programme into front-line services, so that people living with HIV do not encounter stigma at significant points in their lives.
How can an organisation get involved?
The best way to get involved is to register interest on the HIV Confident Website. You will be added to our mailing list and receive information about preparing for, and then signing up to, the charter mark as we start to roll it out more widely. If you have any questions you can email HIV Confident.