Member's statement: World AIDS Day
Member's statement by Ms Paula Bradshaw on .
- MLA
- Ms Paula Bradshaw
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 1 December 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- World AIDS Day
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5268576
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Today, we mark World AIDS Day, and this year's theme, "overcoming disruption and transforming the AIDS response", reminds us that, while much has been achieved, our work is far from over. Services remain under pressure, inequalities persist and many still face barriers with testing, treatment and support. At the heart of those barriers lies stigma. Too often, stigma dictates how we feel safe asking for help, who comes forward for testing and who remains silent. It remains one of the most damaging forces in our fight against HIV, preventing people from accessing the care that they deserve. I want to take a moment to thank Positive Life for the vital work that it does across the province to support people living with HIV and their families. It challenges stigma every day with compassion and courage and offers a safe and welcoming space for people who might otherwise feel overlooked or misunderstood. Its contribution to public health and the well-being of so many individuals cannot be overstated. Earlier this year, I submitted a question for written answer to the Health Minister about the long-acting, injectable, prevention treatment called cabotegravir (CAB-LA). The injection is administered every two months and offers a powerful alternative for people who struggle with daily pills or have difficulty accessing regular services. I am pleased that the Minister has written back to say that it has now been approved for use here as part of the roll-out of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The Department of Health has also begun the process of formally endorsing the relevant guidance, so that eligible patients can soon start to receive the treatment. Over the past year, we have seen further encouraging developments. Global evidence continues to support injectable PrEP as a safe, effective prevention tool; more people are accessing testing; more countries are expanding prevention; and researchers are now working on even longer-acting options. However, none of those advances will reach their full potential while stigma remains. Too many people still hesitate to test, because they fear what others think. Today, on World AIDS Day, I make it absolutely clear that getting tested is normal and responsible and protects your health and the health of those whom you love. Testing is free, confidential and one of the most important things that anyone can do. There should be no shame, no fear and no silence around caring for your health. It is also crucial that people know this: when someone living with HIV is on effective treatment and has an undetectable viral load, they cannot pass the virus on. Undetectable equals untransmittable. That simple but powerful message saves lives. Our goal must be to bring an end to new HIV transmissions and an end to the stigma that has held so many people back for too long.
464 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.78).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.96).
- Subject area: Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.78 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.96 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.04 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.89 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.05 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.03 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.03 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:02 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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