The world missed the global targets for HIV in 2020, including having fewer than 500,000 new HIV infections. But last week, several countries refused to move forward with the draft global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections unless certain terminologies were removed from the draft.
These terminologies included “comprehensive sexuality education,” “gender identity,” and references to gender diversity.
A representative from Oman said their usage “don't serve any purpose and they're highly culturally sensitive and we urge the Secretariat to revise it,” adding that it will only increase discrimination and stigma. While Russia said that “If we are urging a healthy lifestyle, then traditional family values and sexual behavior would be better to be advocated in preventing the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections.”
The World Health Organization’s executive board has agreed to conduct further consultations on the draft before recommending it for adoption at the 75th World Health Assembly in May.
But Asia Russell, executive director of Health GAP, whose work focuses on ensuring access to HIV treatment worldwide, told Devex that governments should be decriminalizing laws targeting people living with HIV instead of “wasting time trying to muzzle WHO.”
“They are haggling over words, when 1.5 million new HIV infections occurred in 2020 alone, and every single day young people are being denied access to life-saving information about sex, sexuality, gender [identity], and how to stay safe from HIV, unintended pregnancies, and STIs,” she said.
“With obstruction like this, it's easy to see why governments are so off track in providing HIV prevention and treatment for all, and protection of the human rights everyone needs to obtain life saving services,” she added.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.