Protecting human rights is central to the HIV response, but in several places, the opposite is happening with the introduction of legislation that risks further increases in infections.
This includes the recent introduction of punitive bills and laws targeting LGBTQ+ people. In Uganda, the anti-gay bill signed into law in May has driven LGBTQ+ people into hiding and to not seek care and treatment. In the United States, multiple bills have been put forward in different states targeting LGBTQ+ people, including bans on transgender youth seeking gender-affirming care.
These laws not only violate people’s human rights but also hinder organizations from providing health care to targeted populations, said Chris Beyrer, a co-chair of the IAS-Lancet Commission on Health and Human Rights, during last week’s IAS Conference on HIV Science.
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.
