Learning Objectives:
How do parliamentarians contribute to the responses to HIV/AIDS?
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
- Have a better understanding of the rationale for strong parliamentary leadership on HIV/AIDS;
- Know the challenges and obstacles that parliamentarians face in their response to HIV/AIDS;
- Have a basic understanding of the role of parliamentarians and key steps for parliamentary action against HIV/AIDS.
Introduction
As elected officials parliamentarians have a responsibility to address the needs of their constituencies, more often this means meeting the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. This not only includes advocating for and developing protective legislation, and diverting public funds to HIV/AIDS campaigns, but also setting a positive example by speaking openly and honestly about the disease. Parliamentarians can be leaders and role models in their constituencies by denouncing stigma and discrimination, promoting testing, prevention, and treatment, and ensuring equal opportunities for political participation among those living with, or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Unit 4 provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of parliamentarians in the fight against HIV/AIDS and explores the rationale for stronger parliamentary engagement in the response to the pandemic. This unit identifies how MPs can play an active leadership role on HIV/AIDS through their core lawmaking, oversight, and representation functions.
This unit looks more broadly at the leadership role of parliamentarians, as an introduction for subsequent units that delve into the specifics of HIV/AIDS legislation, budgetary oversight, committee work and outreach initiatives in more detail.
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