People First Charter

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People First Charter

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People First Charter

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About Us

WHY?

The People First Charter 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 and the wrong language perpetuates this. 


The HIV field is rife with terms laden with stigma & blame: 

  • HIV-infected person
  • Patients failing treatment
  • Became infected
  • Serodiscordant


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 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.  

What we do

We ask policy makers, researchers, conferences, journals, & care providers to follow our  terminology guidelines & other examples of best practice through:
 

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


 Our goal is to help promote appropriate language throughout health care, science, & beyond! 

How can YOU help?

 Ultimately we hope all communities will use preferred language, but first we must embed consistent, 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 (kindly & gently) encourage the use of People First terminology. We ALL get it wrong sometimes and it takes TIME to embed change.


We must also be mindful of the challenges of presenting or publishing in a language that is not your first language.

Types of language

Person-first language

Person-first language simply puts people before their condition, recognising that people are people, and not defined by their condition. In HIV care we should avoid terms like 'HIV-infected people' and use 'people living with HIV'


Some other condition areas also prefer person-first language, for example"

  • 'person with diabetes', not 'diabetic person'
  • 'person with obesity' not 'obese person'


Other conditions areas prefer identity-first language (see below).

Identity-first language

Some communities feel that person-first language separates people from their condition when it may not be possible or appropriate to do so. 


For example, many people in the deaf community see deafness as part of their identity, as do many autistic people. Identity-first language often includes 'people' or 'person' so arguably is still person-centred.

Which language is right?

There are no fixed rules and what is considered 'correct' will vary by condition, over time, and between individuals. 


What is critical is to ask the communities with a given condition or characteristic how they prefer to be described and to revisit this regularly.


We will never get it right all of the time but open discussion about preferred terminology will drive understanding and change.

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 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14681293

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

https://www.eacsociety.org/

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/

British Association of Sexual Health & HIV

International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research

British Association of Sexual Health & HIV

Leading UK organisation for Sexual Health care & eduction www.bashh.org

International AIDS Society

International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research

British Association of Sexual Health & HIV

World's largest association of HIV/AIDS professionals www.iasociety.org

Academic Medical Education

International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research

International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research

A global provider of innovative & state-of-the-art scientific congresses & medical education programs on infectious diseases

www.academicmedicaleducation.com

International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research

International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research

International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research

Promoting research on sexually transmitted diseases & facilitating  timely exchange of information among research investigators.

https://www.isstdr.org/

UK-CAB

The Lancet Group

UK-CAB

The UK Community Advisory Board if a network for community HIV treatment advocate across the UK https://ukcab.net/

Promoting excellence in the pharmaceutical care of people living with HIV. https://hivpa.org/

HIVPA

The Lancet Group

UK-CAB

Promoting excellence in the pharmaceutical care of people living with HIV

https://hivpa.org/

Gilead

The Lancet Group

The Lancet Group

Gilead is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people

www.gilead.com

The Lancet Group

The Lancet Group

The Lancet Group

A global group of medical journals, publishing the best science for better lives

https://www.thelancet.com

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.


Contact Us

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info@peoplefirstcharter.org

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