In the preface to this revised version, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, and UNAIDS Executive Director, Peter Piot, stress that vulnerability to HIV infection and to its impact feeds on violations of human rights, including discrimination against women and violations which create and sustain poverty.

In turn, HIV begets human rights violations, such as further discrimination, and violence. They added that, in the decade since the drafting of the Guidelines, "the role of human rights in responding to the epidemic and in dealing with its effects has become evermore clear".

The Guidelines, originally drafted at an international consultation in 1996 and updated in 2002, aim to provide member states with advice on how to respond to the challenges of HIV and AIDS while protecting human rights. The consolidated Guidelines include the 2002 revisions and a new preface by Ms Arbour and Dr Piot. Hard copies are available from both OHCHR (publications@ohchr.org ) and UNAIDS (bestpractice@unaids.org ).