IAS Applauds U.S. Senate Passage of PEPFAR and Repeal of Discriminatory and Ineffective HIV Entry and Immigration Ban
Geneva – July 18, 2008 - The International AIDS Society (IAS) applauds the United States Senate for passing the
reauthorization of the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The IAS particularly commends the provision
in this bill which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to lift the ban on travel and immigration to the U.S.
by HIV positive non-citizens, and urges Congressional and White House leadership to put this bill into law.
Reauthorization of PEPFAR through the Tom Lantos and Henry J Hyde US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (S 2731) will bring a much needed boost in global resources available for
HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care; while also tackling other equally important infectious diseases, and addressing
the crisis of weak health systems. The approval of this bill will also go a step further to enhance U.S. global
leadership on HIV/AIDS by aligning scientific progress on HIV, public health evidence and U.S. public policy. Repealing
the entry and immigration ban is an important step in combating stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. It also
challenges other countries with discriminatory policies and laws restricting the entry, stay and residence of people
living with HIV to follow suit.
The IAS has opposed the “U.S. HIV-specific entry bar” in principle and practice since 1990. The IAS does not hold its
conferences in countries that restrict short term entry of people living with HIV/AIDS and/or require prospective
HIV-positive visitors to declare their HIV status on visa application forms or other documentation required for entry
into the country. The International AIDS Conference has not been held in the Untied States for the past two decades.
The XVII International AIDS Conference, to be held August 3-8, 2008, in Mexico City will gather more than 20,000
professionals from around the world leading the global response to HIV/AIDS. Conference delegates will hold several
sessions that discuss the impact “travel restrictions” have had on individuals, families, and on perpetuating HIV stigma
and discrimination. Currently, some 67 countries around the world have some sort of HIV-specific laws that restrict the
entry, stay or residence of people living with HIV.
IAS member experts in infectious disease and public health have long held that laws and policies barring the entry, stay
or residence of HIV-positive people do not protect the public health and may in fact impede effective responses to HIV.
Such “travel restrictions” prevent HIV- positive people from visiting relatives in other countries, doing business or
studying abroad, migrating for work reasons, participating in international humanitarian and development efforts,
serving in consular services, seeking or receiving asylum, attending conferences, vacationing, uniting with family
members or adopting HIV positive children from abroad.
“IAS is proud of its longstanding leadership and commitment to this issue. We congratulate the US Senate, and the many
advocates from the fields of science, medicine, law, faith, and constituent groups most affected, who have long fought
for the repeal of the HIV travel ban in the United States,” said IAS President Pedro Cahn. “We look forward to seeing
this provision put into law as we move forward in the global movement to reduce the burden of HIV.”
For more information on countries with HIV entry, stay and residence restrictions, please go to www.hivtravel.org .
The International AIDS Society is the world’s leading association of HIV professionals, with more than 11,000 members
working at all levels of the global response to HIV/AIDS. Our members represent scientists, clinicians, and public
health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic in 183 countries worldwide. IAS is the custodian
of the biennial International AIDS Conference.
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