Structural barriers and human rights related to HIV prevention and treatment in Zimbabwe

Abstract

There has long been recognition that individual risk factors can only partially explain vulnerability to HIV infection, and that a broader range of socioeconomic, cultural and political factors must be taken into account. More recently this understanding has been applied to addressing obstacles to accessing HIV treatment. Yet, while structural interventions aimed at contextual factors related to HIV prevention and treatment have been shown to be effective, they have not been widely implemented. Using the situation of Zimbabwe as an example, we will present an illustration of how contextual barriers can be understood in human rights terms, and how using a human rights analysis can specifically help define ‘structural-rights’ interventions and compel their implementation.

Keywords:

• human rights
• structural interventions
• HIV/AIDS
• Zimbabwe
• women

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Clara Presler and Helen Schietinger for assistance in preparing the manuscript, two anonymous reviewers, and the many people in Zimbabwe who have assisted us with our work and who continue, in face of great risk, to fight for human rights for all.