Human Rights as Safeguarding : Children, HIV/AIDS, Education and Human Rights in Jamaica

The interface between HIV/AIDS, education and human rights is an important issue in Jamaican society. The spread of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean is second only to that in Africa and Jamaica itself has the second highest numbers of HIV+ individuals within the Caribbean region. Using a qualitative methodology, this exploratory study aimed to discern the schooling experiences of HIV+ children and young people in Jamaica. Despite reported high levels of stigma and discrimination within society itself, there was no evidence of children and young people experiencing discrimination at school as a result of their HIV+ status due to the absence of relevant national laws on anti-discrimination or due to the failure, of any adult, to act on relevant policies aimed at safeguarding them.