05/09/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/09/2025 07:07
In Pakistan, people living with or at risk of HIV don't just face a health challenge - they face a justice crisis.
Stigma and discrimination follow them into their homes, communities, and institutions, hindering their access to life-saving healthcare and leading to discriminatory laws, policies, and practices. This, in turn, results in their harassment and mistreatment by law enforcement agencies, abuse, and wrongful arrests. These challenges are compounded by policies that criminalize certain behaviours associated with key populations and by a legal system often unaware of their realities. As a result, many are denied legal support when they need it most.
Despite the ambitious "10-10-10" targets outlined in the Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 to eliminate HIV-related inequalities, Pakistan is still falling behind. In 2023, only 13 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the country were on treatment (UNAIDS Data Hub, 2023). This slow progress is not just a healthcare issue. It's a systemic one - where harmful laws, social stigma, and limited access to justice keep key populations trapped in cycles of exclusion and prevent Pakistan from meeting targets set out under the Global AIDS Strategy, the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
A Rights-Based Response
To break this vicious cycle, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched Pakistan's first-ever Access to Justice (A2J) initiative in 2023 for individuals living with or at risk of HIV. Rooted in the notion that no one should be left behind, this initiative is designed to reduce inequalities, combat the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, and address the human rights barriers that people living with HIV face in accessing justice and healthcare.
Through this initiative, UNDP has deployed 10 community-based legal aid officers in high-risk districts across Punjab (Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Islamabad), Sindh (Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana), and Islamabad to provide free-of-cost legal aid advice, counselling, referrals, and representation.
Their impact speaks for itself. In just two years:
• Over 10,000 people were engaged in awareness sessions.
• More than 3,100 individuals accessed legal assistance - including transgender persons, people who inject drugs (PWID), PLHIV and other high risk populations.
• 69 percent of reported cases were related to harassment - often by neighbours, employers, or even law enforcement.
• Resolved other legal issues including family disputes, National Identity Card documentation, domestic violence, and marriage rights.
This initiative also directly supports Pakistan's AIDS Strategy IV (PAS IV) and highlights how legal empowerment can improve prevention, testing, and treatment outcomes.
Building Trust, Changing Systems
UNDP recognizes that achieving meaningful change requires sustained engagement with key populations, PLHIV, and other key stakeholders to drive lasting social transformation.
To this end, the A2J approach leveraged stakeholder engagement as a central tool in establishing a robust support and referral system for both the HIV community and key populations. Over 400 stakeholder meetings were facilitated- connecting legal aid officers with pro bono lawyers, social safety networks, healthcare providers, and law enforcement. These conversations helped reduce stigma, enhance referral networks, and open doors to additional support like shelter, financial aid, and education.
By bringing legal services closer to the community, the A2J initiative is not just resolving cases - it's reshaping the environment in which key populations live and seek care.
What's Next?
Recognizing that transformative and sustainable change comes from community-based and community-led efforts, UNDP is committed to strengthening and expanding the A2J initiative. This involves investing in existing legal support and justice systems while connecting them with grassroot efforts to enhance impact and sustainability. The next phase of the programme will go beyond legal aid-mobilizing communities, advocating for inclusive laws, and strengthening the link between grassroots efforts and justice systems.
The goal: a more dignified, rights-based HIV response that leaves no one behind.
Author:
Summayyah Rasheed
Programme Officer - Stigma and Discrimination
Global Fund HIV Project Management Unit
UNDP Pakistan