PURPOSE: Zero Discrimination Day observed on 1 March highlights the urgent need to take action to end inequalities surrounding income, sex, age, health status, occupation, disability, sexual orientation, drug use, gender identity, race, class, ethnicity and religion that are prevalent around the world. States have a moral and legal obligation to remove discriminatory laws and to enact laws that protect people from discrimination. Everyone has a responsibility to hold states accountable, call for change and contribute to efforts to remove discriminatory laws.
FORUM: “To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.” Zero Discrimination Day 2024. We can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected. The world has made great progress towards the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. That progress has been powered by progress in protecting human rights. But laws, policies and practices that punish, discriminate against and stigmatize women and girls, key populations, and other marginalized communities violate human rights and obstruct access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.
There is an urgent need to remove laws which harm people’s rights and to bring in laws which uphold the rights of every person. The path that ends AIDS is a rights path. The recent, well-coordinated and well-funded global push back against women’s rights, against the human rights of LGBTQ people, against sexual and reproductive health and rights, against democracy and against civic space is not only a threat to everyone’s freedom, it is a threat to everyone’s health. In response to this threat, the AIDS movement and allies are “pushing back against the push back, reminding world leaders of their commitments to uphold all human rights for all people. As communities across the world stand up for rights, the United Nations is not only on their side but by their side. We know the way that will allow all individuals to enjoy their human rights and reach their full potential in health, dignity and well-being. So, let’s make it happen! Let’s join forces for an unstoppable partnership.
Source: Text: https://www.internationaldays.org/march/zerodiscriminationday