This Guidance was developed in response to the increase in HIV-related human rights crises and the shrinking civic space for rights-related responses to HIV in recent years across the world. This document builds upon existing guidance documents, offering updated guidance for country-based United Nations staff (United Nations Country Teams) and partners to use their respective mandates to coordinate effective responses to human rights-related crises within the framework of the Resident Coordinator system, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, global HIV and human rights strategies and frameworks. 

The Guidance describes the United Nations’ mandates for responding to human rights crises affecting people living with HIV, key and vulnerable populations. Given the significant link between HIV stigma, discrimination and violence and punitive laws, policies and practices, a guidance on resolving HIV-related human rights crises is of critical importance to the United Nations and its Country Teams. This Guidance will also be of interest to staff of other organizations concerned about or wishing to contribute to a crisis response, such as international donors, development partners, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions, community-led groups and other civil society groups.

The guidance aims to:
• promote understanding about the nature and scope of the United Nations’ role in preventing and responding to HIV-related human rights crises;
• help regional and country staff to anticipate and prepare for HIV-related human rights crises through the development of a crisis response plan;
• provide guidance on key principles and options for action by country staff as they assess the nature of a crisis and determine, how and with whom they should work to respond;
• support and promote a coordinated crisis response on the part of the United Nations and other relevant actors, both in the country and at regional and headquarters levels; and
• promote sustainable, long-term initiatives to help prevent future HIV-related human rights crises.