UNESCO and Education: Combating stigma and discrimination

1
UNESCO and Education Combating stigma and
discrimination

• To prevent HIV we have to tackle stigma and
  discrimination
  
• To reduce stigma and discrimination we have to
  educate how to prevent HIV
  
• You can not do one with out the other

2
AIDS and Education

• Education is the most powerful strategy for
  preventing HIV and for improving the life of
  those already infected
  
• It is also the most powerful strategy to reducing
  stigma
  
• The two have to go hand in hand
• UNESCO advocates for stronger involvement of
  Ministries of Education in National responses to
  HIV and AIDS both in the formal and informal
  sectors

3
Mobilizing the MoE is a huge opportunity, because

• The MoE is in a unique position to reach young
  people with preventive education and life skills
  education
  
• The MoE (especially teachers) can help diminish
  stigma and discrimination of PLWA

4
Making the Education Response More Effective

• Strengthen the education response to HIV and AIDS
  by enabling the entire school community to live
  responsibly, safely and productively in a world
  with HIV and AIDS
• Necessitates major adjustments in the curriculum
  and in how teaching takes place
  
• Necessitates a school environment that is
  rights-inspired, healthy, safe, violence-free,
  and learner-friendly

5
Helping Students Avoid HIV Transmission

• Ensure they are well-informed
• Help them recognize their personal
  vulnerabilities
  
• Promote life-affirming attitudes and values
• Deepen their understanding of the meaning and
  implications of sexuality and relationships
  
• Create a culture that does not tolerate substance
  abuse (alcohol, drug taking)
  

6
Helping Students Avoid HIV Transmission

• Place great stress on living a healthy life
  (exercise, nutrition, a positive approach)
  
• Encourage students to get treatment for STIs
• Help them to talk easily about sex and sexuality,
  about HIV and AIDS
  
• Show zero tolerance for stigma and discrimination

7
What the Curriculum should Include

• The curriculum response to HIV should ensure the
  integration into classroom activities of good
  quality skills-based sexual health and preventive
  HIV education, including life-skills
• HIV prevention programmes should deal with
• Gender
• Relationships and Sexuality
• Reproductive health
• Substance abuse
• The nature and role of a healthy life style
• Human rights

8
The right to non-stigmatising curricula

• The school environment should not be hostile to
  children affected and infected by HIV
  
• Stigmatising or discriminating statements are
  avoided in school curricula
  
• Positive examples should be set in schools

9
For publications and information services

• Contact
• UNESCO Bangkok
• HIV/AIDS Clearing House
• http//www.unescobkk.org/hivaids/clearinghouse
• Email hivaidsclearinghouse_at_unescobkk.org