Abstract #286  -  HIV related travel restrictions enhance discrimination, exclusion and vulnerability of people with HIV
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Mr Karl Lemmen - Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe
Additional Authors:  Mr Peter Wiessner,
Aim: Restrictive entry and residency regulations targeting mobile populations with HIV fuel discrimination exclusion and vulnerability of people with HIV. Designed as a measure to prevent and control HIV in the early stages of the HIV epidemic these restrictions don’t have any public health justification in a globalized world. By sending out wrong messages they endanger evidence based public health efforts, such as the inclusion and involvement of vulnerable populations, capacity building and peer education.
Method / Issue: In 2008 a questionnaire to inquire HIV specific entry and residence restrictions had been send to all German embassies in 186 countries abroad and all foreign embassies in Germany, additional data got collected by further research. Questions were raised to inquire specific regulations affecting entry and residency of PLWHAs and their application in practice. Additionally special provisions regarding monitoring and expulsion of people concerned were inquired. We the project we updated our information from the first survey in 1999. We published the new data and helped to shape advocacy and HIV policy by actors like the International UNAIDS Task team on HIV related travel restrictions, IAS and the Global Fund.
Results / Comments: Our monitoring study demonstrates that 66 of the 186 countries included have special entry regulations for PLWHA. Additionally, in 22 countries special restrictions cannot be ruled out due to contradictory or imprecise information. The majority of countries with entry restrictions require obligatory HIV tests. 47, 3 % of countries included exclude PLWHA, 30 countries do not stand back from deporting PLWHA or asking them to leave if they get tested HIV positive. These restrictions range from the denial of work and residency applications and study permits due to HIV status, (threat of) deportations, mandatory HIV tests for certain groups, populations and professions, like house maids, construction workers, sex workers and people working in the tourism industry, people arriving from endemic regions and returning citizens.
Discussion: The majority of countries with entry restrictions require mandatory HIV tests to exclude people with HIV. HIV related travel restrictions are a relic of a time that had passed, they are and against public health evidence and endanger the global fight towards universal access. These restrictions are discriminative by nature and enhance the vulnerability of people with HIV. They violate basic principles to reduce the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, notably the GIPA principles, designed to lead to a greater involvement of people living with HIV in the fight against HIV. It is an accepted truth among scientists and public health experts that travel and residency restrictions are ineffective to curb the spread of HIV. Some countries, however, still prefer to ignore these recommendations. HIV related entry and residence regulations should be removed wherever they take place. Joint efforts between different bodies, Governments, Civil Society and intergovernmental organizations like WHO, UNAIDS and IOM are necessary to abolish discrimination against mobile populations with HIV.
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