Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou stresses HIV/AIDS prevention among youth
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), high-risk sexual behaviour represents the major vector of HIV. Of utmost concern is the sharp increase in diagnoses of infection acquired heterosexually. Since HIV transmission follows different patterns of disease-spreading, other vulnerable groups should also be taken into account, namely: MSM (man having sex with man), IDUs (injecting drug users), migrants, sex workers and prisoners.
It cannot be ignored that a high number of young people are being diagnosed with HIV in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States. It is evident that the rise in HIV diagnosis is interconnected with the increase of high-risk sexual behaviour. In this regard, Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou has encouraged European Health Ministers to focus on HIV prevention among youth. The intent is to lead a Europe-wide initiative to raise awareness and have an impact on an European level. In the battle against AIDS, the European Commission provides platforms to coordinate activities between Member states and organisations working at local level to bridge the distance between European institutions and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The celebration of the World AIDS day was summoned by Kyprianou with the launch of a new AIDS campaign "chess love"
EATG: Freedom of movement and the right to universal prevention, treatment and care
On World Aids Day, the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) addressed two key human rights connected issues: the right for people with HIV to travel freely and the right for migrants to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care.
In order to tackle the epidemic, many countries opt to disregard human rights rather than reinforce them: restricting freedom of movement for people with HIV and more or less excluding HIV-positive people from the right to access to prevention, care, and treatment once they cross borders. The fact is we do not live in countries with closed borders; people migrate, legally or illegally. Once away from their homeland, access to prevention, treatment and care becomes very difficult and sometimes impossible. It is in breach of two fundamental human rights: freedom of movement [1] and the right to health care access [2].
Closed borders for people living with HIV/AIDS
EATG and the German AIDS Federation surveyed 193 countries and the findings show that at least 106 countries (out of 170) have special regulations to restrict or forbid entry to HIV-positive foreigners (or that the existence of special regulations cannot be ruled out due to contradictory information). About 90 out of 106 countries with restrictive residence regulations implemented mandatory HIV screening. 62 % of the countries in the survey have implemented discriminatory entry regulations for HIV-positive foreigners.
In some countries people will be deported if they have already crossed the border. Countries who deport HIV positive foreigners currently are Brunei, China, Cuba, Iraq, North and South Korea, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. Only India has repealed its restrictions by law, but it might take some more years until every single officer is informed. On that issue, EATG supports the 2008 Civil Society Forum on HIV/AIDS priority action to eliminate the deportation of people based on their HIV-positive status, especially when deported to countries where treatments are not available.
European countries are leading the movement within the G8 and UN member states initiative of reaching universal access to HIV services by 2010. However, Europe itself has not reached its universal access goals as yet. Only 75% of Western Europeans and 20-25% of Eastern Europeans in need of HIV treatment receive it, and countries are lacking in terms of prevention, especially among key affected groups in Europe (people from migrant and ethnic minorities, injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, sex workers).
In order to advocate for the universal right to access prevention, treatment, care and support for migrants and ethnic minorities in Europe, EATG co-organized a conference on HIV and migration, last June in Lisbon, bringing together the relevant stakeholders from the community, policy makers, public health authorities and institutions. The event not only described the nature of the problems, but focused on solutions including human rights, public health policies and empowerment. The conference produced the “Community Recommendations on HIV and migration”. In 2008, EATG will make a high priority of ensuring these two fundamental human rights are guaranteed in the future.
For further information
Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and the neighbouring countries
ECDC Report on AIDS prevention (see attached document)
AIDS campaign: AIDS remember me?
EPHA related articles
World AIDS Vaccine Day: IAVI calls for additional financial and technical assistance
**UPDATED** The role of local NGOs in combating HIV/AIDS - The AIDS Action and Integration project
What role for the EU in the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic?
EU ministers address HIV/AIDS threat in Europe
World AIDS Day 2004: EPHA members in action
World AIDS Day 2005: EU commits to help combat the rising epidemic
Eurobarometer indicates high misconceptions about HIV/AIDS
Seminar on HIV/AIDS treatment in Central and Eastern European Countries
