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People With AIDS (PWA) orPeople With HIV (PWH), referring toHIV/AIDS positive people, is a term of self-empowerment adopted by people withhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) in the early years of theHIV/AIDS pandemic as an alternative to thepassive "AIDS patient". The phrase arose largely from theACT UP activist community, however use of the term may or may not indicate association with a particular political group.[citation needed]
Among the early documented uses of the term was by San Francisco nurseBobbi Campbell, a member of theSisters of Perpetual Indulgence and later People With AIDS' San Francisco chapter. This group was part of the formation which would be known as the Denver Principles out of the Second National AIDS Forum, which was held inDenver, United States.[1][2][3]
The PWA self-empowerment movement believes that those living withHIV/AIDS have the human rights to "take charge of their own life, illness, and care, and to minimize dependence on others".[This quote needs a citation] The predominant attitude is that one should not assume that one's life is over or will end soon solely because they have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.[4] Although most of the earliest organizers have died, and organizations have dissolved or reconfigured intoAIDS service organizations (ASOs), the self-empowerment andself-determination aspects of the movement continues.[citation needed] The New York Public Library holds the archives of the New York City chapter of the organization, as well as ACT UP New York's work in the field.[5]
In 2009, the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) andPOZ magazine announced a new initiative called The Denver Principles Project.[6] The Denver Principles Project aimed to recommit the HIV community to the Denver Principles and dramatically increase NAPWA's membership.[6] With a vastly increased membership, NAPWA will be better able to advocate for effective HIV prevention and care, as well as to combat the stigma that surrounds HIV and impedes education, prevention and treatment of HIV.[6]
