NDI Commends Strong Political Leadership and Improved Governance in Addressing HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS and Governance in the Southern Africa region

As nations mark World AIDS Day, NDI lends its support to political leaders around the world who have made efforts to address the governance challenges surrounding HIV/AIDS and worked to make democracy deliver critical services to those affected by the disease.

HIV/AIDS poses a significant threat to both human development and democratic consolidation, particularly in Africa. Governments have made progress in responding to the epidemic with varying degrees of success. Countries with strong political leadership and improved governance and accountability have taken the greatest steps forward in reducing new infections and providing sustainable treatment and other services to those who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

NDI has been working since 2000 to support parliamentarians, particularly in Africa, to deliver on the promise of democracy by improving the lives of HIV-positive citizens and their families. Despite their constitutional mandate to oversee expenditures and policy implementation, develop laws and represent citizens, parliamentarians are rarely included in government-led efforts to address HIV/AIDS and often lack basic information about the disease to make informed decisions. Some countries do not have adequate laws to address orphans and vulnerable children, protect human rights, minimize women's vulnerability, decriminalize HIV transmission or discourage discrimination.

NDI and its partner, the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), have been working with African legislators to help them pass laws that reflect the public interest, participate more effectively in national responses to HIV/AIDS, encourage public/private partnerships to support awareness and prevention, monitor health spending, conduct media campaigns to dispel misinformation and stigma, and oversee government programs to mitigate the effects of the epidemic.

NDI commends the courageous efforts by government officials and parliamentarians who have been at the forefront, leading by example, whether by proposing practical public policy responses to the epidemic or undergoing HIV tests themselves. Activism by governments and their leaders is needed to drastically reduce new HIV infections and dispel the fear, stigma and denial that continue to hamper effective responses to this disease.