Identifying structural barriers to an effective HIV response: using the National Composite Policy Index data to evaluate the human rights, legal and policy environment

Attention to the negative effects of structural barriers on HIV efforts is increasing. Reviewing national legal and policy environments with attention to the international human rights commitments of states is a means of assessing and providing focus for addressing these barriers to effective HIV responses.

The Results of this research, conducted by Sofia Gruskin, Laura Ferguson, Tobias Alfven, Deborah Rugg, Greet Peersman, were that “seventy-eight governments and civil society in 106 countries report the existence of laws and policies which present obstacles to accessing HIV services for key populations. The dissonance between laws and how this impacts the availability and use of HIV-related services deserve greater attention.”

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