The global advocacy group Human Rights Watch is criticizing how the Mexican government handles HIV-related human rights issues, United Press International reports (upi.com, 7/16). The International AIDS Conference will be held August 3 through 8 in Mexico City.
According to UPI, Human Rights Watch says that Mexico’s government needs to pass laws that better protect people living with HIV from discrimination and other abuses; laws are also needed, the group says, to ensure those people have access to the best treatment options available.
“Ahead of the 17th International AIDS Conference, governments are still violating the rights of people living with or at high risk of HIV infection,” Human Rights Watch’s American director, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said in a statement. “Governments have done little to fulfill their frequent promises to end HIV-related abuses. But until they act to end such abuses, even the best-planned policies to treat HIV and stop the spread of AIDS will fail.”
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Jason Farrell, , 2008-07-20 10:51:58
It is a growing concern among many that medications will be confiscated upon entering the country, as well as no access to methadone or buprenorphine for those who need to continue treatment during the conference. It is concern that many who will attend this conference will be subjecting themselves to potential hardships without cause.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
