The HIV Language Compendium

The HIV Language Compendium is a compilation of internationally agreed upon language that provides precedents for the use, proper interpretation, and significance of concepts and terms crucial for an evidence-based and rights-affirming response to HIV. By documenting key language in United Nations agreements and related texts, the Compendium is intended to be a resource for governments, global health actors, and civil society that:

• Provides a bulwark against efforts to reverse the tide of progress by weakening language in future multilateral negotiations and agreements;
• Supports efforts to codify international commitments and norms into national law and policy.

Key terms include:

• Access to health prod­ucts
• Com­pre­hen­sive sex­u­al­ity edu­ca­tion
• Gen­der equal­ity
• Harm reduc­tion
• Human rights
• Key and vul­ner­a­ble pop­u­la­tions
• Key pop­u­la­tion and com­mu­nity lead­er­ship
• Repro­duc­tive rights
• Sex­ual ori­en­ta­tion
• Sex­ual rights
• Soci­etal enablers
• Stigma and dis­crim­i­na­tion

This work was launched at the 2022 International AIDS Conference by the HIV Policy Lab, Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), and Aidsfonds; and overseen by the Love Alliance.

If you have feedback or questions about this tool, please email policylab@georgetown.edu.