Prisons are widely regarded as an ideal setting for the transmission of HIV and other sexual transmitted infections. But in the UK, like in numerous countries, prisoners' rights are very often neglected and/or violated, including in the context of HIV and AIDS.

Prisoners' HIV-related rights are infringed upon at several levels: prevention, especially in relation to access to condoms and safe injecting drug equipment, sexual violence, access to medical treatment, privacy and discrimination. For example, despite the government's commitment to providing prisoners with healthcare services and support equivalent to those available in the general community (i.e. principle of equivalence), the standards applied in prisons are insufficient and in breach the UK's human rights obligations.

The Dublin Declaration on HIV/AIDS in Prisons in Europe and Central Asia aims to encourage the adoption by all Governments of a consistent strategy on HIV and AIDS in prisons. The Declaration highlights the need for a comprehensive public health and human rights approach to HIV in prisons and outlines an international consensus on the rights of prisoners to HIV prevention and treatment and the responsibility of governments to meet these agreed standards.

The UK Project will promote and use the Dublin Declaration as an advocacy tool to call on the UK government to adopt a human rights based approach on HIV in prisons.

MORE INFO

Our fact files on prisons and HIV-related rights in the UK

HIV/AIDS and HCV in Prisons: A Select Annotated Bibliography