Alliance broadens its charitable objects to include human rights and sexual and reproductive health.

24 April 2008

The Alliance has changed its charity objects – which dated back to 1993 – to ensure that they are fit for purpose as the Alliance continues to grow and evolve. The new objects reflect the Alliance’s commitment to linking sexual and reproductive health with HIV and human rights, and will allow the Alliance to carry out wider health activities and human rights work.

Promoting human rights, integrating sexual health and HIV, and working to eliminate stigma and discrimination enable effective, comprehensive HIV responses, and can reduce barriers to HIV services. For example, in India, the Alliance has been addressing the increasing feminisation of HIV with a project to meet the sexual and reproductive health and HIV-related needs of women in low-income settings. Integrating the two allows the Alliance to reach a wider range of women in different settings and make referrals to health, legal, and social welfare services.

The Alliance’s trustees proposed the change in objects in 2007, as part of a broader governance review. The Charity Commission accepted the new objects, which were adopted by special resolution at the Alliance’s annual general meeting in April 2008.

“The objects dated back to the creation of the Alliance in 1993 and we felt that they needed to better reflect the Alliance’s purpose today,” explained Alliance Executive Director Alvaro Bermejo. “This includes expanding the links with sexual and reproductive health and human rights.”

The original objects were:

  • to promote the relief of persons who are suffering from HIV/AIDS; and
  • to advance the education of the public concerning the symptoms, prevention and consequences of HIV/AIDS.

The new objects are:

  • the advancement of health throughout the world, particularly in relation to HIV and to sexual and reproductive health;
  • the promotion of the effective use of charitable resources by civil society organisations advancing health, particularly in relation to HIV and to sexual and reproductive health;
  • the promotion of human rights (as set out in the United Nations conventions and declarations) particularly by the following means: relieving need among the victims of human rights abuse; research into human rights issues; educating the public about human rights; providing technical advice to government and others on human rights matters; raising awareness of human rights issues; international advocacy of human rights and eliminating infringements of human rights;
  • the relief of poverty or other charitable need among people affected by HIV, including their families and dependents, in addition to ensuring that they are healthy.
  • the promotion of equality and diversity by the elimination of stigma and discrimination in relation to people affected by HIV.