​As the country prepares to commemorate Human Rights Month, government calls for South Africans to foster social cohesion, nation building and a shared national identity by following the theme #LeaveNoOneBehind - walk for your rights.
Our Constitution is regarded as one of the world's most progressive. It protects our human rights, which were previously denied to the majority by the then government.

Human Rights Day is observed to reaffirm our commitment to the Bill of Rights as enshrined in our Constitution.

The reality of alarming new HIV infections underscores the value of human rights with South Africa having the world's largest HIV/AIDS epidemic, with 15% new infections and 11% HIV/AIDS related deaths each year, according to the UNAIDS 2017 Country Report.

The protection of human rights, particularly for those most susceptible to HIV is pivotal for a proactive and effective response to the rising HIV infections. The Department of Social Development recognizes that the epidemic is intensified by social, structural, and economic barriers brought about by poverty, a lack of resources, services, infrastructure as well as violence against women and children.

Hence the Department's mandate is to ensure that orphans, vulnerable children, adolescents, and youth (OVCAY) receive the necessary care, support, and protection while exercising their Bill of Rights, such as the right to human dignity and psycho-social services (PSS). Director for HIV/AIDS and EPWP, Ms Tsakani Maluleka, says the department partners with various NPOs who employ community caregivers to offer a basket of services including Psychosocial Services, the distribution of food parcels together with daily cooked meals and assisting orphans with school homework through Home Community-Based Care Programme and the Drop-in Centre

An  accessible,  rights-based,  child-centered, multi-stakeholder approach has enabled remarkable achievements against the epidemic across the continent. With 4.5 million people starting antiretroviral therapy by June 2018, South Africa now has the largest treatment program in the world. Despite such accomplishments, discrimination and stigma often have a substantial effect on individuals living with HIV on their ability to exercise their rights to work, privacy and access healthcare.

GDSD Social Work Policy Developer, Fana Khumalo, articulated that One of the most effective preventative measures against contracting HIV and STIs are through abstinence and the use of condoms.

He contends that interventions aimed at addressing and preventing the plague of infections include Social and Behavior Change (SBC) projects such as YOLO and Chommie.

Khumalo added that these SBC programs focus on providing children and youth with better decision-making skills while forging agency and resilience.

"We also have SBC programs focusing on Men Championing Change and Boys Championing Change," he added.

“These are stand-alone projects centered on men and boys in response to one of the key drivers of HIV, patriarchal gender norms”, explained Khumalo.

Many people living with HIV (PLHIV) go undiagnosed due to a lack of testing services. In response, GDSD strives to remove barriers to testing, treatment, and adherence support by providing OVCAY with a comprehensive service package that addresses both the epidemic's social and structural drivers, thus leaving no one behind.