A rights-based approach to HIV prevention, care, support and treatment: a review of its implementation in Ethiopia

Abstract

Although new HIV/AIDS infections and HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and premature mortality show a declining trend globally, HIV/AIDS has continued to be a major setback to socio-economic development in several parts of the world. Countries have employed various strategies to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS and mitigate the impact thereof. Research from around the world and accumulated practices have disclosed that HIV prevention, care, support and treatment are essential components to a successful response to HIV/AIDS. There is also a broad global consensus on the effectiveness of using a rights-based approach as a vehicle to ensure access to HIV prevention, care, support and treatment services. Being one of the Sub-Saharan African countries hit by the epidemic, Ethiopia has adopted laws, policies and strategies that expedite its response to HIV/AIDS. This dissertation analyses the HIV prevention, care, support and treatment-related laws, policies and strategic plans of Ethiopia through the lens of a rights-based approach. The dissertation concludes that, while Ethiopia has taken commendable measures in terms of putting human rights at the centre of the response to HIV/AIDS, there are a multitude of challenges that the country needs to overcome and a number of legal, policy and practical problems that it should rectify, if it is to conform to its HIV/AIDS-related human rights commitments.