A demonstration in Uganda.
(Cross-posted from PHR's Student Blog.)
Category Archive for 'HIV/AIDS'
Join the PHR National Action and fight for access to essential medicines!
By Hope O'Brien (Thursday, Dec 2, 2010)
HIV – Hope and the Way Forward
By Alexandra Coria (Friday, Aug 13, 2010)
A couple weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have a poster at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria. This conference is amazing – everyone is there from all parts of the AIDS movement: investigators, advocates, NGOs, everyone. And, coming out of it, there are two things I want to highlight for the PHR student community:
First, the lifting of the AIDS travel ban was a huge step forward for the US, and because of it, in 2012 we’re finally going to be able to hold the International AIDS Conference on US soil, in our nation’s capital.
But even though people with HIV can come into the US, a lot of at-risk populations still can’t. People with a history of sex work or drug use offenses are still going to run into major visa and entry issues, so we in the human rights community have our work cut out for us. We only have a scant 2 years to get the US government to lift its substance use and “moral turpitude” travel restrictions (yes, that’s the actual legal language). Having an AIDS conference in our country but not allowing the most at-risk populations to attend would be a disgrace to our country’s AIDS record, and a violation of the human rights of hundreds if not thousands of people.
Second, the first successful proof-of-concept trial for a vaginal microbicide brought us this much closer to the long-sought female-controlled AIDS prevention mechanism. This field is exploding, and holds real hope for new prevention strategies until a highly effective vaccine is available. (And, as I heard at one session, the ladies liked using the gel – they didn’t want to give it back at the end of the trial. Even better.)
So, the bottom line is, there’s reason for hope, but we’ve got serious problems to solve before then. So let’s get on it.
Two Years Too Long: Advocate for the Alaeis Today
By Sarah Kalloch (Friday, Jul 9, 2010)
Two years ago, Kamiar Alaei, MD, and Arash Alaei, MD, were arrested in Iran, just as they were preparing to leave for Mexico to present on their innovative harm reduction work at the XVII International AIDS Conference.
On July 18, the world convenes again for the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria — but will be short two shining stars. Arash and Kamiar remain in jail today. The Iranian government accused the brothers of using trips to AIDS and public health conferences around the world to “foment a velvet revolution” and sentenced them to years in prison. We say treating AIDS is not a crime.
Friends and colleagues of the Alaeis will be in Vienna spreading the word about their case and advocating for their release, and PHR will be supporting them all the way.
Will you be in Vienna at the AIDS conference? To volunteer with these efforts, email Clint Trout at clintworldwide [at] yahoo [dot] com.
Want to take action to support the Alaeis? Sign our new petition, calling on the government of Iran to free the Alaeis.
Throughout their careers, the Alaeis have promoted public health diplomacy and supported the quest for shared solutions to the world’s shared disease burden. It is an outrage to call this treason. Medical professionals should not be put in prison for doing their jobs. Take action today and stand in solidarity with the Alaeis.
See the Background page at IranFreeTheDocs.org for more information on their case.
(Cross-posted from PHR's Health Rights Advocate.)
World AIDS DAY 09 Toolkit
By Danielle Fox (Monday, Nov 2, 2009)
Women all over the world are facing discrimination, abuse and systematic inequities that make then especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Until we protect women from sexual violence and exploitation, provide health and prenatal care and education, and provide all women the socioeconomic power to negotiate safer sex practices, HIV/AIDS will continue to disproportionately affect women in many parts of the world.
This year, in keeping with the 2009 theme of Universal Access and Human Rights, we’re dedicating World AIDS Day and Human Rights Day to getting the United States to ratify the Convention to End All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Join us for the 10,000 in 10 campaign, which aims to collect ten thousand signatures for US ratification of CEDAW during the ten days between World AIDS Day (Dec 1) and Human Rights Day (Dec 10)!
There are a variety of opportunities to join the national action, depending on your interest and capacity:
- Mobilize the health professional student and faculty communities to urge the US to ratify CEDAW as a step forward in protecting women’s rights and health. PHR is doing this in partnership with a number of other organizations, allowing for a greater national movement. Our challenge to each PHR chapter: collect 100 signatures of support for CEDAW from your community.
- Host educational events on campuses nationwide about women, HIV, and the human rights context/approach.
- Organize an in-district meeting with your Senator to personally deliver the signatures you collect and urge him or her to support CEDAW.
As you plan your school’s involvement in World AIDS Day, download our 2009 World AIDS Day Toolkit to receive educational & organizing resources to reach out to students and faculty, organize successful events, and educate members of your community. And stay tuned to the Student Blog for more hands-on advocacy resources available mid-November.
(Cross-posted from PHR's Student Blog.)
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