A unique and powerful charter label created by a Sunderland faculty member to strengthen employers’ commitment to being HIV-friendly is to start working again to tackle stigma. at work is going on around this virus.
Since its official launch in April 2018, Active Allies The charter mark – the world’s first – has registered a number of organizations across the UK, from schools, universities and business districts to nonprofits and small businesses.
Its primary purpose is to demonstrate the commitment of organizations to ensuring that people living with HIV, whether staff or volunteers, are safe and that key staff conduct training, review policies and review practices and resources, demonstrating equality and openness about HIV.
The concept of Active Allies is the result of a research project led by Drew Dalton 2015 is called‘Silent scream?’, which highlights life in the UK for people living with HIV and the barriers they face. The results show that people living with HIV still face discrimination in their work environment despite the enactment of the Equality Act (2010).
However, Drew – Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Program Manager of MSc Inequality and Society at the University of Sunderland – decided to restart Active Allies early next year following the results of a recent public attitudes survey by the National AIDS Trust.
Drew explains: “The survey done in the UK this year has really found that the stigma about HIV is not going away.
“Despite the public’s growing sympathy for HIV, they still hold very salient 1980s and 1990s stereotypes about HIV, with a third of the population in the survey actually saying they have HIV. some stigma against people living with HIV.
“This represents a real risk in workplaces with employment-related discrimination, so we need to put out a message that says, register this free charter, where you can really be a part of eliminating the problem.”
As we mark World AIDS Day on Wednesday (December 1stNS) Drew is reminding employers why it’s so important to sign a charter party.
He said: “There are more than 105,000 people living with HIV in the UK.
“Among them, a growing generation aged 50 and over, who are getting older with the virus, and one in 16 people don’t even know they have it.
“There is still an issue with HIV that we need to address but more importantly, it is also part of the Equality Act.
“HIV is considered a disability because if left untreated, it continues to be debilitating, and so employers should be aware of this.”
The re-launch will be held online via Teams on Thursday, February 24NS, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and will include a talk by author and HIV activist Roland Chesters.
“While HIV no longer necessarily kills people, the impact of the stigma that continues to surround the condition on the mental health of someone living with it can completely kill them,” says Roland.
“People living with HIV today can work successfully and become effective employees. Indeed, for many of them, being present at work is an important part of normalizing their lives after a diagnosis. But they can only do so safely knowing that their employer will support them and protect them from discrimination they may face.
“The Positive Allied Charter Mark is an important step forward in enabling organizations to be recognized for the work they are doing in this area.”
Those who attend the re-launch will receive a free copy of Roland’s latest book, ‘Ripples from the Edge of Life’, which chronicles the stories of 14 people from across the UK living with HIV and in some cases AIDS and the impact on their lives .
The school was the first to volunteer and register a charter when it launched three years ago at Canary Wharf, the London campus of the University of Sunderland.
Justine Gillespie, Manager of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University, said: “At the University, we have a set of values that give clarity to our type of organization and the principles that guide our activities, decisions and principles. rules as well as the required behavior. One of those values is Inclusion.
“Inclusion is fundamentally about personal experience and allowing people to contribute and feel part of our community and be able to be authentic at work.
“Positive action in integration can only happen when there is meaningful and intentional action and registration in the Active Allies charter marks a recognition, which demonstrates that the College is committed to challenging stigma and being a fair and welcoming organization for people living with HIV.”
