UN Urges Governments to Include Refugees in HIV Policies
March 2, 2007
Governments should include refugees in their national HIV programs and provide them with the same access to treatment as their own citizens, UNAIDS and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said Thursday. "Far too often refugees face an untenable situation: they are no longer guaranteed the protection of their country of origin and do not receive assistance from host countries," said their four-page policy brief. In countries struggling with high HIV/AIDS rates, "refugees often do not have access to HIV-prevention commodities and programs. Access to HIV-related care and support is also rarely given adequate attention."
The UN agencies called on civil society to help address the common misperception that HIV prevalence is higher among refugees than among other citizens in host countries. "Stigma and discrimination need to be tackled as an integral part of responding effectively to HIV among refugees and host communities," the statement urged.
Specifically, UNHCR and UNAIDS said governments should:
Xinhua News Agency
This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.