HIV and AIDS: Human Rights for Everyone [comic book]

This United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cartoon booklet called "HIV and AIDS, human rights for everyone" deals with the need to ensure a welcoming and discrimination-free environment for refugees and returnees.

The cartoon tells the story of a young boy named Fatou whose father is an African refugee who has been sick for several months. Because other refugees and the local community suspect that the father is infected with HIV, children refuse to play with his children.

The booklet aims to counter such prejudices and a key message of the booklet is “refugees suffer from stigma and discrimination in many ways. They are often stigmatised just for being refugees….Also, they are falsely accused of spreading HIV. This leads to discrimination and unfair treatment”. This cartoon booklet, which focuses primarily on youth, also highlights the cycle of displacement and advocates for a welcoming and discrimination free environment for refugees and returnees.

UNHCR’s HIV-AIDS Unit will distribute this booklet throughout UNHCR operations in Africa to its beneficiaries and communities’ hosting refugees and returnees.