- Conference
- 2024 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 5 July 2024
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) remains one of the most stigmatised long-term health conditions. Our members living with HIV often face stigma, discrimination, prejudice, bullying and harassment in the workplace, in healthcare settings, and in their daily lives.
HIV stigma – negative attitudes and beliefs about people living with or affected by HIV – continues to blight the lives of thousands of people.
Conference notes that more than 100,000 people in the United Kingdom (UK) are living with HIV, and many of these are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+) people.
Although there is currently no cure for HIV, medical treatment known as antiretroviral therapy (ART), available since the mid-1990s, can help people living with HIV to remain fit and healthy, and prevent them from developing advanced HIV or AIDS.
Conference acknowledges the millions who have died from HIV and AIDS globally, and the work done to treat people living with HIV through development of effective antiretrovirals, as well as advancements in prevention with PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
Some 98% of people with diagnosed HIV in the UK are said to have an undetectable viral load. This means they are successfully treated with antiretrovirals, and the level of virus in their blood is so low that it cannot be measured at their regular checkups. This also means they are unable to pass the virus on to their partners through sexual contact, which is known as U=U – or Undetectable equals Untransmittable.
For most people in the UK, especially if diagnosed early, HIV is no longer the ‘death sentence’ it once was and is now considered a chronic but manageable health condition.
People with HIV are automatically covered by the protections accorded to disabled people under the Equality Act 2010, although many employers and workers are not aware of this.
Conference notes the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) campaign 2030: HIV Time’s Up! THT believes the UK can be the first country in the world to end new cases of HIV.
Conference acknowledges there are many people living with HIV who do not know it. THT’s campaign is about finding and testing everyone living with HIV in the UK, so that they can be offered treatment. People with HIV who are successfully on treatment can’t pass the virus on, so this would help to reach the goal of no new cases.
Conference notes the Unionising against HIV Stigma campaign, initiated by the Greater London Region LGBT+ Committee, who have held three sessions on HIV awareness and the law, and a fringe event at the 2024 National Delegate Conference.
UNISON can play an important role in helping to end a global epidemic that has claimed 38 million lives, and support people living with HIV to thrive. By adding our trade union strength to this campaign, we can help end new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030 and reduce stigma for people living with or affected by the virus.
Conference instructs the National Disabled Members’ Committee to work with the National Executive Council and other parts of the union as appropriate to:
1) Encourage the adoption of the Unionising against HIV Stigma campaign, initiated by Greater London Region, across all regions of UNISON
2) Review UNISON’s guidance on HIV in the workplace with a view to publishing an updated version, to include best-practice use of language around HIV and AIDS
3) Raise awareness that people with HIV are entitled to protections under the Equality Act 2010 and under the Data Protection Act 2018 (General Data Protection Regulation)
4) Raise awareness within UNISON that HIV stigma not only affects people living with the virus themselves, but also their friends and relatives, and other people they are closely associated with
5) Support the Terrence Higgins Trust’s 2030: HIV Time’s Up! campaign