People First Charter

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People First Charter

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People First Charter

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People First Charter

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Our Mission

Why?

What will we do?

What will we do?

The People First Charter was launched in July 2021, during the Berlin International AIDS Society Conference, to promote person first HIV & Sexual Health language. 


Language matters. People living with or at risk of HIV experience stigma & discrimination. The wrong language perpetuates stigma & marginalises people.


As the World Health Organisation states:

 "Positive, inclusive language creates new opportunities for advancement and collaboration, instead of exclusively focusing on ending existing problems".


Our language should match our goals: to ensure all people living with HIV or at risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are supported to enjoy the highest attainable standards of health, as is their fundamental human right.  



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What will we do?

What will we do?

What will we do?

 Ensure policy makers, researchers, conferences, journals, clinicians & allied care providers follow our clear  terminology guidelines & other examples of best practice through:
 

  1. Continuously updating our terminology guidance 
  2. Calling for materials related to HIV & STIs to use people first terminology 
  3. Asking reviewers of scientific abstracts & papers to ensure appropriate terminology is used 
  4. Seeking Charter endorsement from individuals & organisations involved in HIV/STI research & care 


 Further ahead we hope to collaborate with organisations beyond HIV & STIs to promote People First language throughout health care, science, & beyond! 

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What can you do?

What will we do?

What can you do?

 Ultimately we hope all communities will use person first language, but first we must embed consistent use of appropriate terminology within our own sector. First our own field...then the world! 


Sign up to learn more about how to commit to the People First Charter & help us ensure promote the use of the right words in the right way.


If you are able to translate the guidance please get in touch!


If you hear or see language that is not people first, please encourage the use of People First terminology. Please correct people kindly & gently. We ALL get it wrong sometimes and it takes TIME to embed change.

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What is people first language?

People are people, not conditions. We should avoid terms like 'HIV-infected' and use 'people living with HIV', use 'person with diabetes, not 'a diabetic'.


The field of HIV is also rife with terms associated with stigma & blame: 'patients failing treatment', 'became infected' and 'serodiscordant' are examples.

Find out more

Terminology guidance in English

Download PDF

Terminology guidance translated

ARABIC People First Charter 19042022 (pdf)Download
HAUSA People First Charter 31052022 (pdf)Download
SPANISH EUR People First Charter 31032022 (pdf)Download

Endorsing organisations

HIV Medicine

International Journal of STD & AIDS

British HIV Association

Journal of the British HIV Association & European AIDS Clinical Society 

British HIV Association

International Journal of STD & AIDS

British HIV Association

Leading UK association representing HIV care professionals www.bhiva.org

International Journal of STD & AIDS

International Journal of STD & AIDS

International Journal of STD & AIDS

Journal of the British Association of Sexual Health & HIV https://journals.sagepub.com/home/std 

European AIDS Clinical Society

International Journal of STD & AIDS

International Journal of STD & AIDS

Pan-European specialist organisation with the aim of reducing HIV disease burden across Europe

NAM aidsmap

ViiV Healthcare

NAM aidsmap

NAM provides independent, accurate and accessible information about HIV: www.aidsmap.com

Chiva

ViiV Healthcare

NAM aidsmap

Enhancing the health & social wellbeing of children young people & young adults living with HIV: www.chiva.org.uk

ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare

A specialist pharmaceutical company 100% dedicated to HIV medicines and research and focused on people living with HIV and AIDS: https://viivhealthcare.com/

PENTA

ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare

A global, scientific organization dedicated to paediatric research: https://penta-id.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at info@peoplefirstcharter.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

PeopleFirstCharter (PFC) is a voluntary & entirely independent project led by Dr Laura Waters, an HIV & Sexual Health doctor based in London, UK. Support is provided by colleagues across the world who help promote the site & translate the terminology guidance.


Endorsing organisations support the principles of PFC & promote it's use where possible, For example, HIV Medicine links to our terminology guidance in their instructions for reviewers. Endorsers are invited to suggest additions & amendments to the guidance, as is anyone with an interest in or passion for using the right language! Endorsers provide no financial support.


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