UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé applauded today the leadership displayed by China, Namibia and the United States of America to lift their travel restrictions for people living with HIV, while calling for similar action in all countries that continue to employ such discriminatory measures.
Namibia is the most recent of the three countries to remove HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence. Its reforms-which took effect on 1 July-also remove such restrictions against people living with other contagious diseases.
"Namibia is very pleased to lift travel restrictions," said Hon. Richard Kamwi, the Namibian Minister of Health, speaking at a press conference at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna. "With this move we have formally removed this discrimination. There is no way we will make headway without people living with HIV playing a vital role."
Mr Sidibé underlined that restrictions that limit mobility and migration based on HIV-positive status violate human rights. There is no evidence that such restrictions prevent HIV transmission or protect public health.
Furthermore, HIV-related travel restrictions have no economic justification, as people living with HIV can lead long and productive working lives.
"Travel restrictions for people living with HIV serve no purpose other than to fuel stigma and discrimination," said Mr Sidibé. "I urge all other countries with such restrictions to remove them."
Last year, President Obama announced that the United States would lift its long-standing HIV-related travel restrictions, overturning a policy that had been in place since 1987.
"The lifting of the HIV-specific U.S. entry ban is a sign of a renewed commitment to global health," said Dr. Howard K. Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "With this announcement, the U.S. looks forward to hosting the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC."....
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