Dispatches from AIDS 2008: Sexual and Reproductive Rights

As part of the OSI Public Health Program activities at the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, Juliana Rincón Parra of Global Voices is posting a series of dispatches on conference events that address the human rights and health needs of marginalized persons. Currently living in Colombia, Parra edits the Global Voices citizen media video section and teaches a course in emerging media at EAFIT University in Medellín. She also cofounded Otrabanda.org, an emerging media organization.

Tuesday afternoon's symposium, "Who Is Right and Who Is Wrong: Putting the Right Back into Sexual and Reproductive Rights," provided plenty of food for thought. Deloris Dockrey from the US, Shaun Mellors from South Africa, Carlos García de León from Mexico and Veronica from ICW (who substituted for Promise Mthembu) all gave their reasons and thoughts behind the movement to provide sexual and reproductive right services and information to people living with HIV/AIDS.

One of my thoughts on seeing this panel composed of only PLHIV was that it was a shame more people couldn't see this: the way these men and women are strongly going on with their lives and advocating for others to do the same is inspiring. They spoke candidly about their positive status, the impact it has had on their lives and how in spite of popular belief, men and women with HIV don't lose the wish or right to marry or find a partner and found a family if they so desire.

One of the main ideas proposed during this panel was that PLHIV should have access to family planning centers and health information specific to their condition. They should be able to go to a clinic and ask about birth control methods and interaction with ARV drugs, the usage of condoms, recommendations on IUD placement and what cares they should take if they wish to have a family, space children out or should they require pregnancy termination.

Women should not be coerced to terminate a pregnancy, or made to sign waiver forms for sterilization as a condition to treat them. This is a situation which does take place in Namibia and other countries and it defies the sexual and reproductive rights.

For me it was shocking to hear their individual stories regarding the stigma they face daily and come face to face with a reality they mentioned frequently: living with HIV or AIDS does not mean that you lose your desire for the same things you hankered for before your condition was known. Although ARV drugs may influence your sex drive and the way your body deposits fat which could lead to self-image issues, it doesn't mean that everybody will react the same way to them.

Some PLHIV have decided that abstinence will be the road for them, but others have been very clear on how they wish to have a family and fulfill their life goals. There is enough stigma attached to life with HIV/AIDS for PLHIV to find it in health care centers where doctors, nurses and practitioners may discriminate against them and not trust their decision making skills, but at the same time not giving them specific information on their condition.

What could be done to improve this situation? First, agree on a definition of what sexual and reproductive health rights are, start the conversation going in political dialogues, speaking about the topic and organizing actions to support the movement.