UN calls for equality for people with AIDS

 People living with HIV need equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit from today’s global world, where immigration is increasingly important, UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe says.

In a statement, Sidibe welcomed Australia’s commitment to equal treatment of people living with HIV in its immigration policies. Infected people will be treated similarly to other people with chronic health conditions and disabilities during the country’s immigration health assessment process.

“Applications for visas from people living with HIV will be assessed against criteria applying to anyone with a chronic health condition,” Sidibe  said.

The announcement came ahead of the 20th international AIDS conference that will take place in Melbourne, Australia, from July 20-25.

UNDAIDS was advocating for the right to equal freedom of movement, regardless of HIV status. There was no evidence that restrictions on the entry, staying or residence of people living with HIV protect the public’s health.

In 2012, more than 40 chief executives from some of the world’s largest companies signed a pledge opposing HIV restrictions, calling them discriminatory and bad for business.

As part of its ongoing dialogue with countries on this issue, UNAIDS has sent communications to all countries, territories and areas that appear to have HIV-related entry visit.

Australia has made important reforms to its immigration health assessment requirements and procedures since the conclusion of a parliamentary inquiry on migration and disability in 2010.

These reforms were assessed against the criteria outlined by the international task team on HIV-related travel restrictions co-chaired by the Norwegian government and UNAIDS, and it was concluded that Australia had met the task team’s standard.