Editorial: What will it take to get to the heart of stigma in the context of HIV?

Abstract

More than 40 years into the global HIV pandemic, we are still grappling with HIV-related stigma and its intersections with other marginalized identities, health conditions and social practices. HIV-related stigma, conceptualized as the devaluing, mistreatment and constrained access to power and opportunities experienced by people living with and associated with HIV, remains a critical concern inhibiting the HIV response. Indeed, the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy explicitly describes the goal that people living with HIV, key populations and people at risk of HIV enjoy human rights, equality and dignity, free of stigma and discrimination - to realize optimal HIV outcomes. The inclusion of commitments towards eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination within the Political Declaration agreed at the 2021 United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS for the first time also signals a conducive global political environment for action at scale. The time is now to renew and innovate responses to HIV-related stigma, including taking the steps needed to ensure an enabling global policy environment.