Sophia Forum joins with HIV sector to launch the HIV Manifesto

Join us in challenging local candidates to pledge their support for people living with and affected by HIV. The general election is a crucial opportunity to raise the profile of HIV; please add your voice to our campaign.

We have come a long way since the 1980s. While stigma and discrimination remain, HIV is now a long term condition and individuals are living with HIV into old age. HIV affects individuals of all ages with 95% of people living with HIV of working age. HIV treatment in the UK is excellent, but not everyone living with HIV is doing well. The number of people diagnosed with HIV each year remains high and far too many people are diagnosed late.  Services which help people living with HIV manage their condition are facing continued funding cuts.

We have come so far. We cannot stop now.

Read the HIV Manifesto

We are calling on the next Government to:

  1. Commit to tackling the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV.
  1. Fully fund HIV and sexual health services to meet the needs of local communities*.
  1. Recognise the importance of prevention to a sustainable health and social care system by increasing investment in public health services*.
  1. Equip schools with the resources they need to ensure that high-quality, age-appropriate, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT)-inclusive sex and relationships education is taught to all young people in all schools*.
  1. Make PrEP available to all individuals at risk of HIV in the UK*.
  1. Develop a fair benefits system that meets the needs of people living with HIV whether in or out of work.
  1. Ensure that the health and social care system is equipped to meet the needs of a population ageing with HIV*.

*The general election is electing MPs to the House of Commons, from across the UK. The House of Commons legislates for health and social care, and education, in England only. The devolved Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland legislate in these areas.

Take action now

It’s time to pile on the pressure; will your local candidates stand with people affected by HIV?

There are some easy ways you can help put HIV on the agenda in this election.

  • Click here to write to your local candidates, asking them to support our manifesto
  • You can Tweet the manifesto to spread the word about our demands – use the hashtag #HIVmanifesto. Below are some model tweets you might like to use. You can also take a photo of yourself holding our HIV pledge board. Download [PDF].
  • Take it offline: meet with your candidates face-to-face to discuss the points in the manifesto. Go to any local hustings events to do the same. Ask questions to see how committed they are to the HIV manifesto. Take a look at this toolkit [PDF] with details and tips on what questions to ask.

Don’t forget to let us know how your local candidates responded. Email [email protected]

Tweets

I’ve challenged my local MP candidates to support people living with HIV. Join me by sharing the #HIVmanifesto

HIV is misunderstood and under-funded. Put it back on the agenda this election with the #HIVmanifesto

I pledge to stand with people affected by HIV this general election – do you? #HIVManifesto

I’m calling on the next government to stand with people affected by HIV. #HIVManifesto

 

Download the full HIV Manifesto

Download the HIV Manifesto pledge board