On World AIDS Day (1 December), the Hana Human Rights Organization emphasizes the reality that people living with HIV face not only medical challenges but also profound psychological and social suffering on a daily basis. Experiences of discrimination, fear of rejection, and unjust judgments impose pressures that threaten their human dignity and make the burden of the disease even heavier. The organization stresses that a significant portion of this suffering stems from society’s reactions, not from the nature of the illness itself.
From the organization’s perspective, society’s behavior plays a decisive role in either creating or reducing harm. Misconceptions, cultural stereotypes, and discriminatory attitudes often lead individuals living with HIV to hide their condition and endure their suffering in isolation. For this reason, public education aimed at promoting humane, respectful, and non-judgmental behavior is fundamental to properly supporting people living with HIV. Emphasizing the fact that what puts individuals at risk is high-risk behavior, not living alongside people with HIV, is essential for correcting public attitudes.
Hana Human Rights Organization also highlights the crucial role of education in preventing HIV transmission. Disseminating accurate and scientifically reliable information about prevention methods, the importance of testing, and ways to provide social and psychological support to those living with HIV are effective tools for reducing fear, breaking stigma, and strengthening public awareness. Expanding education and public understanding is a path that not only contributes to the health of society but also protects the dignity and rights of people living with HIV.