Thirty years into the HIV epidemic, HIV-related stigma and discrimination continue to be pervasive in the lives of people living with HIV. HIV-related stigma and discrimination occur throughout the world – however, they manifest differently and in varying degrees in different locations.
Stigma associated with HIV and the resulting discrimination can be as devastating as the illness itself. Furthermore, the spread of HIV can be directed attributed to HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Despite the widespread recognition of the pervasiveness of stigma and discrimination and their harmful impact on HIV responses, appropriate levels of funding for programs aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination are still lacking.