Share

HIV increasing among gays

New HIV infections are increasing among homosexuals, drug users and prostitutes who don't seek help because of laws that criminalise these practices, the head of the UN AIDS agency said on Monday.

Michel Sidibe, the head of UNAIDS, said "it is unacceptable" that 85 countries still have laws criminalising same sex relations among adults, including seven that impose the death penalty for homosexual practices.

He called a proposed Ugandan law that would impose the death penalty for some gays "very unfortunate" and expressed hope it will never be approved.

At a time when UNAIDS is scaling up its programme and seeking universal access to HIV treatment, Sidibe said he was "very scared" because bad laws are being introduced by countries making it impossible for these at risk groups to have access to services.

'Growing conservatism'

"You have also a growing conservatism which is making me very scared," Sidibe added.

"We must insist that the rights of the minorities are upheld. If we don't do that ... I think the epidemic will grow again," he warned. "We cannot accept the tyranny of the majority."
Sidibe told a group of journalists at a luncheon hosted by the United Nations Foundation that in countries from China to Kenya and Malawi, about 33% of new HIV infections are in men having sex with men, a significant increase.

By contrast, he said that in the Caribbean where most countries don't have repressive laws, only between 3 and 6% of HIV infections are in male homosexuals.

Even in the United States, where laws are not restrictive and the gay community was the first to tackle Aids, Sidibe said it is "shocking" that more than 50% of new HIV infections last year occurred among homosexuals. And he said in the 19-25 age bracket the infection rate was even higher.

Complacency

"It seems like we have come full circle" in the United States, he said. "After almost no cases a few years ago we are seeing again this new peak among people who are not having access to all the information, the protection that is needed."

In addition to failing to adequately deliver the right messages about Aids prevention, Sidibe blamed complacency in a new generation that has access to treatment.

He added that this was not just a problem in the US but in Europe and in Africa as well.

Sidibe said drug users are also getting the HIV virus that causes AIDS in high numbers.

"You have 70% of new infections occurring in Eastern Europe and Central Asia among drug users, but they are criminalised," he said. "They don't have access to services. They have to hide themselves and go underground."

1 000 infections a day in Nigeria

Of the 16 million people in the world who are injecting drugs, almost 3 million are HIV positive, and among them less than 4% have access to treatment and less than 8% have access to services, Sidibe said.

"It's the same for men having sex with men," he said.

In Nigeria, where there are 1 000 new HIV infections every day, over 30% are in vulnerable groups - drug users, sex workers and homosexuals, he said.  Sidibe called for "a prevention revolution" including a campaign in major cities around the world like the anti-smoking campaigns launched in recent years. - (Sapa/AP, March 2010)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE