AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. The body's normal defence against infection can be affected by the virus which can be spread when blood, blood products or body fluids from an infected person pass directly into someone else's bloodstream.

 

The ways through which this can happen include unprotected sexual intercourse, the sharing of hypodermic needles, and blood transfusions (though HIV transmission through blood transfusions in industrialised countries has now been virtually eliminated through routine screening of tested blood).

 

Accepted medical opinion is that HIV cannot be shared through touch, through ordinary social contact, or through the sharing of common facilities such as lavatories, mugs, etc. Recent reports by the Terrence Higgins Trust and The National AIDS Helpline advise that there is no risk to employees or students from social or work contact with an HIV infected person.

 

 

There is no justification for discrimination against anyone with, or at risk of acquiring, HIV.

 

Implementation of this policy requires the co-operation of every member of staff and every student.

 

The University of Westminster is committed to ensuring the rights of individuals to work and study at the University irrespective of their actual or perceived HIV status.

 

No applicant (staff or student) will be required to disclose their HIV status at any stage of the recruitment, assessment and selection procedure.

 

No member of the University will, for any reason, be required to take on HIV antibody test or disclose details of her/his HIV antibody status. (It may be necessary for staff or students to take an HIV antibody test if such a test is required by an external agency and is necessary, for example for entry to another country).

 

The University will not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination, or victimisation of an individual on the grounds that they are perceived to be HIV positive or on the grounds that they are perceived to be in a particular "at risk group".

 

The Student Counselling and Advisory Service will, on request, offer advice and support to individuals on issues concerning HIV/AIDS. Where this falls beyond their professional remit - eg around medical and legal issues - referral will be made to the University Health Service and/or the appropriate external specialist agency - such as The Terrence Higgins Trust or The National Aids Helpline.

 

If a member of staff or student chooses to disclose information about their HIV status to any member of the University, confidentiality of this information will be fully protected at all times. Breach of this confidentiality will be a matter for disciplinary action.

 

 

If a member of the University wishes to lodge a complaint in connection with the operation of this policy, they should do so to the University's Equal Opportunities Co-ordinator who will identify the relevant procedure for dealing with the complaint. This policy makes no distinction between perceived and actual HIV positive status; individuals who wish to make a complaint under the policy will be under no obligation to disclose their HIV status.