Joint statement: National AIDS Trust and One Voice on far-right violence
National AIDS Trust and all of the organisations who make up One Voice Network work to support the human rights of marginalised people. We condemn all forms of prejudice and are horrified by the scenes of right-wing violence we've seen across the UK in recent days. We stand by migrants, people of colour, Muslims and all others who have been terrorised and targeted in these abhorrent attacks.?
We acknowledge the distress that minoritised communities are currently experiencing, including people living with HIV who have had to come to the UK to escape traumatic events and seek refuge. We call on the UK Government and local authorities to provide additional funding for community led organisations to be able to provide appropriate mental health and other support services to those in need.
Racism, along with other forms of prejudice, directly impacts people living with HIV, exacerbating the health inequalities that already exist in this country and around the world. If we don’t tackle this at its root, these inequalities will only get worse.
While it has been heartening to see strong, peaceful counter protests and communities coming together, which underline the fact that the vast majority of people do not hold these hateful views, we do however acknowledge that this does not negate the very real trauma that people have experienced or are being made to re-experience. The need for allyship and community has never been more clear.
We will continue to advocate for a fairer, more just future for all marginalised communities.
Organisations that make up One Voice Network?provide support for minoritised communities. On their website you’ll find links which may be helpful for those who have been affected by these events.
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One Voice Network is made up of the following organisations:
Organisation of HIV Positive African Men (OPAM)
National AIDS Trust and One Voice Network partner on Unheard Voices .?Unheard Voices aims to end the structural inequalities and barriers that affect the health of Black people living with or at risk of HIV in the UK.?