Ensuring access: Targeting historically marginalized groups into mainstream HIV/AIDS programming, the experience of Handicap International’s work with people with disabilities in Sub-Sahara Africa and South East Asia
Based on the World Report on Disability (2011 by WHO/World Bank), estimating that 15% of the world’s population lives with disabilities, it is no longer possible to ignore one of the largest minorities in the global response to HIV. For many years now, Handicap International (www.handicap-international.org), co-founder of the Africa Campaign on Disability and HIV (2007-2011), has been advocating for disability inclusion in national HIV and AIDS programming and policies in Sub-Sahara Africa. The presentation aimed at: 1) increasing the awareness of mainstream HIV and AIDS organizations on the intersection between HIV and disability, 2) understanding about the rationales why it is important to address the rights of women, men and children with different impairments in HIV and AIDS programming in order to reach “zero infection, zero AIDS-related death and zero discrimination”, 3) sharing good practices and lessons learned from Handicap International’s disability inclusive HIV and AIDS related initiatives, and 4) sharing about key international legal tools and policies promoting disability inclusion in HIV and AIDS.