HIV
Miller-McCune Magazine takes on HIV
Miller-McCune magazine just published a nice article about the changing global role of HIV funding. There is nothing new or radical in the article, but they’ve pulled together a lot of information in a useful, readable way. It’s well worth reading if you’re unfamiliar with the saga of AIDS funding or want a refresher that’s full of vivid imagery.
Less Money for AIDS Treatment
If you think about it, PEPFAR was never a great idea. An ambitious, idealistic, somewhat glorious idea. But not actually a good one. There was no way we could keep expanding it forever. Now, the Obama administration has made the difficult decision that we cannot keep increasing PEPFAR budgets to keep pace with new HIV infections. We can’t treat our way out of an AIDS crisis and we just spent ten years focusing on treatment and neglecting prevention.
AIDS Prevention Is More Than Condoms
When we talk about HIV, we don’t call it a sexually transmitted disease. That’s not an obscure technicality – it’s because HIV is spread through blood as often as it is through sex – specifically via shared needles.
HIV Travel Ban Lifted in U.S. and Korea
In June 2008, Ban Ki Moon called on all UN member states to end restrictions on travel based on HIV status, saying “60 years after the Universal Declaration on Human Rights] it is shocking that there should still be discrimination against those at high risk, such as men who have sex with men, or stigma attached to individuals living with HIV.” At the time twelve countries– Armenia, Colombia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sudan, the United States and Yemen — barred en
Disappointing HIV News
We’re going to have to wait a little longer for our secret weapon against HIV. A major trial of one promising microbicide just found no protective effect against HIV. The microbicide, PRO 2000, had showed promise in a previous trial. This larger trial, however, found no impact.
New Ugandan Legislation Includes Death Sentence for Active Homosexuals
The Ugandan government is currently debating a new law against homosexuality. Regular homosexuality is punishable by seven years in prison. Being HIV positive and having gay sex – even with a condom – would be punishable by death. I don’t think it is culturally insensitive to say that this is a very bad law.
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The SC; HRC; DPRK; South Sudan
The SC: The Security Council today held its last consultations under the Council Presidency of ROK. Tomorrow, Russia will take over the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for March under Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
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The SG; Mali; Middle East; Palestine
The SG: At the Fifth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna, Austria today, the SG emphasized the role of youth in ensuring a “prosperous, equitable and peaceful future.”
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The SG; DRC; HRC; Palestinian Prisoner
The SG: In Ethiopia over the weekend, the SG is now in the United Arab Emirates. Today he met with Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, where the two discussed developments in the region, including Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, and in the Middle East Peace Process.
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