BACKGROUND:

After hosting a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) tour of the region in January 2004, ARP launched the Stigma Reduction Program in the Latin America/Caribbean region. With funding support by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and in close partnership with the Futures Group and leading corporations in the region, the program model was successfully launched in Mexico in 2004, and will be implemented through 2006. ARP and its partners are expanding the program throughout Latin America and the Caribbean – a highly vulnerable region where proactive efforts to bolster prevention and treatment strategies are essential.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?

The Stigma Reduction Program is a 3-phase, 3-year program model, developed to bring government and in-country NGO partners together with leading corporations and industries to form strong, sustainable National Business Councils dedicated to fostering corporate policies and practices that will reduce HIV/AIDS stigma in the national workplace.

The program is designed to build effective, country-specific relationships between partner organizations and the business sector in efforts to:

• Build national business councils on HIV/AIDS dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS stigma in the workplace;
• Collaborate with corporations, governments and NGOs to develop long-term strategic plans with measurable HIV/AIDS workplace policy outcome goals;
• Build and strengthen frontline NGO technical knowledge and capacity, especially in how to build and cultivate corporate relationships;
• Create strong, expandable avenues for corporations, industry associations and trade unions to join forces in providing leadership in national AIDS strategies;
• Increase public awareness and support for effective national AIDS treatment and prevention strategies;
• Survey top employers in the target country for HIV/AIDS policies and practices;
• Study the country-specific scope and manifestations of HIV/AIDS-related stigma;
• Publish findings and results for the study and benefit of the broader community to study, build upon and replicate.

WHY STIGMA REDUCTION?

Initial research for the program found that HIV/AIDS-related stigma is widespread, pervasive, and a significant barrier to elective testing and treatment in the region. Studies by Latin American governments and by UNAIDS and the International Labor Organization have found that large percentages of people in the region are HIV-positive and do not know it.

Stigma left unchecked will impede prevention and care strategies, and allow for rapid increases in infection rates.

GOOD FOR BUSINESS, GOOD FOR PEOPLE

The workplace is the main nexus for the broadest cross-section of people in Latin American societies. Attacking discrimination here, and removing the stigma-barrier to testing, voluntary disclosure under protected circumstances, effective care and treatment strategies and prevention efforts, will have the broadest societal impact.

If employers have a zero-tolerance policy for HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the workplace, their employees and surrounding communities are less likely to stigmatize HIV/AIDS in broader society. By using the media effectively and involving key opinion leaders, the program will dramatically raise the public profile of HIV-related stigma while giving credit to those companies that dedicate resources to reduce it.

A stigma-free company will gain a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining talent, increase productivity, and enjoy vastly more accurate risk assessment, cost-projections and profitability over the long term.

A highly-engaged business sector will invest greater resources in NGO technical assistance capacity in order to consistently innovate and benefit from it. This will have a wider impact, as greater NGO technical assistance skills will be then available to a broader range of beneficiaries in society.

ARP Stigma Reduction Program Publications:

"HIV/AIDS in the Workplace: 2004 Corporate Survey for Mexico"

English Version | Spanish Version

ARP Executive Director Abner Mason's remarks at Mexico City press event

English Version | Spanish Version

"HIV/AIDS in the Workplace: Stigma Reduction Strategy Guide for Employers" (Brazil)

English Version | Portuguese Version

Strategy Guide author's presentation remarks to CEN (Conselho Empresarial Nacional)

(In Portuguese)