Discuss human rights with the group. It is not necessary to discuss all the points below, unless the group is interested in hearing all
of their rights. Otherwise discuss relevant points and facilitate the conversation.
Our Human Rights
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The right of access to health care and affordable treatment without discrimination (can be violated by lack of appropriate
drugs, condoms and treatment procedures, refusal to treat people with HIV and to provide care).
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The right to information and services needed for HIV treatment (can be violated by lack of access to information to make
informed choices).
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The right to physical and mental integrity/health.
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The right to freedom of expression.
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The right to equal access to education (can be violated by refusing education to people with HIV).
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The right to demand an end to: gender inequality, violence against woman and girls, and discrimination based on sexual
identity.
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The right to non-discrimination, equal protection and equality before the law (can be violated by not providing legal services
or advice).
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The right to privacy and freedom of movement (can be violated through compulsory testing, lack of confidentiality of test
results, compulsory reporting of status to health authorities, isolation of HIV+ people).
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The right to work (can be violated through dismissal from or discrimination at work, HIV testing as a precondition of employment).
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The right to life.
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The right to marry and start a family (can be v iolated by forced abortion, not being allowed to choose to have a family).
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The right to an adequate standard of living.
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The right to participate in public and cultural life.
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The right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (can be violated when people are treated badly
physically or emotionally).
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The right to be free from stigma.
Dealing with stigma and discrimination
It may be helpful to role-play situations where the women felt their human rights were being infringed, as well as role playing possible
ways of dealing with these situations. For example, a role play on losing their job because of their status, and role-playing reporting
their employer to the Department of Labour etc.
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Discuss the importance of realising ones rights and how to act when these rights are being infringed.
If the facilitator is experiencing difficulty in initiating discussions around the topics, stories may be useful, for example: a story told
by the group, with each person taking turns to add on more to the story. Here one might ask them to keep to the theme of either
human rights or stigma. This may be useful in externalising problems and help the group to become more comfortable speaking about
them. It may also be useful in exposing the dominant discourses at play in society about HIV+ people.
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Wrap up (sessions 1-8)
Role plays (break into pairs):
(1) Tell the other person how to live positively with HIV.
Note to facilitator: Encourage women to refer to CD4 counts, nutrition, impact of stress, prevention.
(2) Tell another woman how to disclose her status.
Discuss as a full group:
(1) What skills did you learn to handle your stress?
Note to facilitator: Discuss problem-solving and coping.
Components of problem-solving: Identify the problem, what can you do about it, what are the possible ways to deal with it, and
which of these options can work and are you willing to do?
(2) What is the most important information, skills and/or knowledge you gained from attending the first 8 group sessions?
HIV
Intervention Programme for the ENHANCEMENT OF CHILDREN'S RESILIENCE
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