This review aims to generate informed discussion among key stakeholders including academia, policy makers, governments, donors and people living with HIV on the phenomenon of stigma and discrimination, with a particular focus on its human development context and impact. The paper also seeks to set a research agenda to foster compelling and disaggregated enquiries into stigma and discrimination.

The review takes an ecological perspective to examine the human development consequences of HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Asia at the level of the individual, family, institution and structure/society. The ecological approach views stigma and discrimination as a social phenomenon and helps examine the pathways, with a view to find effective and sustainable solutions.