R-2002-06-2002_OVE

Initiated: April 2002 MEClHIVTransl0ct2002
THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION ON WOMEN’S
RIGHTS TO HEALTH CARE AND HOW THAT RELATES TO THE
PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO-CmLD DIV INFECTION
Adopted by the WMA General Assembly, Washington 2002
Preamble
1. In many parts ofthe world the prevalence ofHIV infection is rapidly increasing.
-h2.HIV/AIDS is a disease that mostly affects younger people.
-h3.In some parts of the world men who have sex with men and intravenous drug users are the
main groups at risk from mv. But in many parts of the world women are predominantly at
risk from the pandemic.
+A.The WMA believes that access to health care is a human right. This imposes an obligation on
both governmental and non-governmental entities to ensure that the human rights of females
are fully respected and protected and that gender inequalities are eradicated in both thepublic
and private spheres of life. .
-hS.The promotion and protection of the sexual and reproductive rights of women are critical to
success in confronting the mvIAIDS pandemic.
Recommendations
6. Therefore the WMA asks member associations to encourage their Governments:
6.1. to empower women of all ages so that they are free from discrimination and enjoy access
to education, sex education and life skills training;
~.2. to empower women to have equal access to employment, economic independence,
health information and health services, and the benefits ofscientific progress;
~.3 . to activate campaigns in the media, in order to eradicate myths, stigma and
stereotypes that could degrade or dehumanize women;
~.4. to review and revise laws, policies and practices that facilitate the full recognition
and respect ofthe human rights and fundamental freedoms ofwomen;
&:+:-6.5. to provide as a minimum measure, prophylactic treatment to women who have
been raped and also to women who are about to give birth and are HIV-positive, although
treatment for such patients should ideally start as early as possible in pregnancy, all this to
save lives and reduce the burden ofinfection.
•••
25.11.2002
The World Medical Association Resolution on Women’s Rights to Health Care and how that Relates to the Prevention
of Mother-to-Child HN Infection (Document MECIIDVTrans/0et2002) is an official policy document of the World
Medical Association, the global representative body for physicians. It was first adopted by the WMA General
Assembly, Washington 2002.
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