A human rights approach to AIDS prevention at work

In September 1997, the Council of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) unanimously approved a regional code on HIV/AIDS and Employment. This booklet documents the Code and examines the state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in southern Africa and its impact on the workplace. It then traces the process that was undertaken by SADC, trade unions, business organizations, governments and nongovernmental organizations to promote the Code. Another section of the booklet focuses on the principles underlying the Code and explains the importance of the issue of a uniform response to AIDS and employment for southern Africa and other developing countries. Partnerships that were built and strategies that were adopted in several countries during the process were also examined. It illustrates how lobbying and advocacy have drawn HIV/AIDS more fully to the attention of trade unions, business, and government. In addition, the booklet looks at the challenges for effective implementation of the Code. It presents a number of ways in which employers, employees and government can use the Code to introduce better activities around HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Appendices contain the SADC Code, the Namibian Code and the Zimbabwean Code.--Publisher's description.