HIV and AIDS, Human Rights and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Supervisor:       Dr Michael Jennings (SOAS)

Co-Supervisor:  Dr Matthew Weait (Bbk)

According to the latest estimates from UNAIDS, almost two thirds of all People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) live in sub-Saharan Africa, and three quarters of all AIDS related deaths occur in this region.  As well as the medical aspects of the disease, HIV and AIDS throws up particular social, economic and political challenges for governments, communities and individuals in coping with the impact of the epidemic.  Increasingly, governments are turning to legislation as a potential tool to prevent new infections, and protect the non-infected.  However, aspects of this legislation have raised concerns over the extent to which the law can adequately protect the rights of both PLWHA and the non-infected, and over potential human rights implications which can leave certain groups more vulnerable.

This project explores the complexities of the interaction between human rights' approaches and legislation and HIV and AIDS.  It will examine the extent to which HIV and AIDS represents an exceptional circumstance, justifying policies that would not be applied to different public health crises.  It will ask whether the international human rights response has been appropriate, and whether African responses have emerged that might better reflect local needs and conditions.

The exact focus of the project will depend on the expertise and interests of the successful applicant, but it would be expected to link in with ongoing research projects of the two supervisors.  Potential areas for situating the project might include (but are not limited to):

• the impact of the Model AIDS Law on the rights of PLWHA;
• the right to health and treatment access;
• gender inequality and human rights
• the criminalisation of perinatal and maternal-foetal transmission
• the articulation and/or implementation of international human rights' standards at national/regional/local levels

Candidates should have an undergraduate and masters level degree in either a social sciences subject, or in a law or human rights related discipline.  They should have good qualitative research skills, and ideally have some knowledge of HIV and AIDS policy and practice.

The successful candidate will have access to SOAS expertise in social and political-economy theory in relation to social development and social aspects of health, as well as its regional expertise in sub-Saharan Africa.  Birkbeck will provide support with relation to law and human rights' aspects of legislation relating to HIV and AIDS.

Key References

Mann, J., (1997). Medicine and public health, ethics and human rights. Hastings Centre. Report: 27 (3): 6-14
Martin, R. (2006) The exercise of public health powers in cases of infectious disease:  human rights' implications.  Medical Law Review, 14 (1):  132-143.
UNAIDS (2002) Criminal Law, Public Health and HIV Transmissions:  A Policy Options Paper, UNAIDS:  Geneva.
UNCHR (1989) Report of an International Consultation on AIDS and Human Rights, Geneva, 26-28 July 1989. (HR/PUB/90/2).
UNCHR (1988) HIV/AIDS and Human Rights:  International Guidelines, United Nations:  New York & Geneva.
United Nations (1995) E/CN.4/1995/45 (Report of the 51st Session).
Weait, M. (2007) Intimacy and Responsibility:  The Criminalisation of HIV Transmission, Abingdon:  Routledge-Cavendish
Weait, M.. (2001) Taking the Blame:  Criminal Law, Social Responsibility and the Sexual Transmission of HIV, Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. 23(1):  441-457
WHO (2006) Report of the WHO European Region Technical Consultation on the Criminalisation of HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, Copenhagen:  World Health Organisation

Further details about the project may be obtained from

Supervisor:       Dr Michael Jennings; mj10@soas.ac.uk
http://www.soas.ac.uk/staff/staff36480.php

Co-Supervisor:  Dr Michael Weait; m.weait@bbk.ac.uk
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/about_staff/academic_staff/weait

Further information about PhDs at SOAS is available from:
http://www.soas.ac.uk/research/degrees/research-degrees.html

Application forms and details about how to apply are available from

http://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/howtoapply/postgraduate-application.html
SOAS Student Recruitment and Admissions Office
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square
London
WC1H 0XG
United Kingdom
Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7898 4310

Prof Deniz Kandiyoti; dk1@soas.ac.uk
Department of Development Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square
London
WC1H 0XG
Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7898 4488

Further  Requirements

In addition to the standard application form, applicants should provide the following information:  a statement of not more than 1000 words explaining their suitability for the Studentship.  This should be sent to the Scholarships Officer by e-mail:  scholarships@soas.ac.uk

Closing dates for applications is 25 February 2009