Kate Thomson

I was diagnosed with HIV more than 20 years ago and almost immediately became involved in AIDS activism - firstly in the UK, where I helped set up the first positive women's organization - and then on an international basis - through work with the international PLHIV conferences, the Global Network of PLHIV and the International Community of Women living with HIV.

Although I'd had experience of working with the UN system since the days of WHO's Global Programme on AIDS, the first time I got a real sense of working within the UN system was when I joined the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in early 2001.  Although the Global Fund is not a UN agency, it has an administrative agreement with WHO and its staff have WHO contracts. 

While I was doing the paperwork, I was advised by the WHO Human Resources department not to disclose my HIV status as this would complicate the processing of my short-term contract.  As someone who had been ‘out' about my status for many years I found this request outrageous and ironic, given it was coming from the world's leading agency on health. 

Once I arrived at the Global Fund, I learned that although I had to pay into the health insurance scheme I was not covered for HIV-related health problems.   So, while the Global Fund was working to ensure health services for PLHIV in other parts of the world, its own short-term staff and those of the WHO could not access health care for HIV or other pre-existing conditions.  I remained in Geneva for almost two and a half years with no HIV or Hepatitis C-related health coverage.  Luckily Geneva was close enough to the UK for me to return there on a regular basis to see my doctor. 

Thanks to the advocacy of concerned staff, people on short-term contracts with WHO can now access health care for HIV and other pre-existing conditions.  However, there are many other areas the UN and its associated agencies must address to create a better and safer workplace for those of us living with HIV. I joined UNAIDS in February 2005 and shortly after those of us openly living with HIV at the UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva came together to  start UN+  in response to the particular problems encountered by one of our colleagues, but recognizing that we all had major concerns related to  living with HIV in the UN system. 

I believe that UN+ can truly be a force for change within the UN, not only in the policy arena, but also by playing a key role in offering support and information to staff members living with HIV and by reducing the stigma and discrimination they experience.  In order to be most effective, UN+ will need to work strategically with other partners within and outside the UN system, from Heads of Agencies to other positive networks.

Andy Seale

I was working in London when I learned I was HIV positive in 2001. Like many of us this started a process of personal reflection and I decided to return to the UN system as I had previously enjoyed working at the World Health Organization. By early 2003 I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to combine my personal and professional experiences and to take a position at UNAIDS. This move was a big step for me as it was the first time I set out to take on an HIV focused role.

When I arrived at UNAIDS I was really surprised that there were so few staff openly living with HIV and very little information specific to HIV positive employees. When I asked questions about HIV related issues I experienced a dire lack of capacity within the organization's Human Resources department and quickly confronted numerous barriers to 'positive working' including issues around health insurance, information and attitude.

At the time I could only imagine how much worse the situation was likely to be in different duty stations and the few staff living openly with HIV in Geneva found each other out and started to share experiences and stories. When a colleague experienced a series of problems at work a small group of us were mobilized into organizing. We held meetings with Peter Piot and later Kofi Annan and had great support from them to develop the vision of what is now UN+.

I am proud to work in the UN and proud to have been a founder member of UN+.  In addition to working to improve our workplaces and offering support to positive staff UN+ also enables us to provide first hand perspectives on AIDS within our organizations. Whether we work on AIDS or not I'd like to think our personal realities help us bring a sense of urgency and empathy to our work as we seek to improve the lives of others.

For me UN+ has powerful advocacy potential both inside and outside the UN. Our first global meeting was inspiring and the speed at which we were able to secure a coordinator and identify priority areas is something we should all be proud of. My hope now is that we find ways to encourage more positive staff to join UN+ and that we continue to learn from each other and grow together.  

Andrew Doupe

Why I was involved: The only thing that reminded me that I was HIV-positive was arriving at work and knowing that I was being discriminated against in regards to health insurance (2000). Health insurance is the central issue,,, though having a voice within the system is also crucial. Lots of time I would sit in meetings and at some point say...and what about PLHIV"... their issues are often forgotten by people who are HIV-negative or of unknown status.

Another issue to highlight is that there are many people in the UN who are HIV-positive but are too afraid to be open about their status. UN+ creates a forum for their involvement.

---

Ian Grubb

When I began working at WHO five years ago I felt pretty isolated as a person with HIV and had a lot of trouble finding out about my health insurance entitlements.  Colleagues tended to talk about people with HIV in an abstract way, as "them", or as "infected persons", rather than as "one of us".   A few of us in Geneva and New York wondered how it must be for other UN staff in so many parts of the world, and UNAIDS was able to come up with some resources to get UN+ going.  We met Kofi Annan and he supported our mission.  

I have been more or less openly HIV+ for nearly 15 years, and one of my hopes for UN+ is that it will encourage more people with HIV+ to come out in their workplaces and in their communities and to stand up for their rights.  That is a difficult thing but we have an incredibly important role to play helping people understand this epidemic, and we can really make a difference.  On one level we are very privileged working in the UN, and we need to use UN+ as an advocacy platform to hold the UN and our countries and communities to high standards when it comes to respecting human rights, including the right to health.  

On another level we are ordinary people who face the same challenges as everyone else with HIV in the world: accessing and adhering to treatment; trying to stay well and happy; trying to have a fulfilling sexual life; finding acceptance, love and friendship.  I hope UN+ can also act as a venue in which people from diverse backgrounds - gay, straight, black, white, from every region and culture - can find common ground, offer support and learn from one another.

Manuel da Quinta