Living together positively – joining forces against discrimination

Many people with HIV are living their lives to the fullest and HIV cannot be transmitted with stable and effective HIV therapy, enabling people with HIV to become parents without fear of transmitting HIV to their partners and children.

However, the knowledge of these changes has not yet been sufficiently established in society, and even though many people know that everyday interactions involve no HIV risk whatsoever, HIV often still gives rise to fear and insecurity. Even today, people with HIV frequently experience devaluation and discrimination – to the point of bullying. Such experiences or the fear thereof can severely affect health and quality of life – and stops others from getting tested.

Support for people with HIV who have experienced discrimination and want to stand up for themselves is offered by counsellors of the AIDS Service Organisations, the contact point of the German AIDS Service Organisation for HIV-related discrimination (www.hiv-diskriminierung.de/kontaktstelle) as well as the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and the regional anti-discrimination bodies (including the complaints offices of the State Chambers of Physicians in the event of discrimination in the healthcare sector).