Laws Obstruct Progress on HIV/AIDS Front in Asia, UN Says

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, 90 percent of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region still obstruct the rights of people with or at risk for HIV, said Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS.

"In the Asia-Pacific region, and across the world, there are too many examples of countries with laws, policies, and practices that punish, rather than protect, people in need of HIV services," Sidibe said. Same-sex relations and prostitution are illegal in 19 and 29 Asian countries, respectively, UN experts note. Several countries in the region continue to incarcerate drug addicts, while 10 sentence serious drug offenders to death.

The Global Commission of HIV and the Law, established last year by the UN as a vehicle for discussing HIV-related legal and human rights issues, will convene in Bangkok on Thursday. An estimated 150 experts from 22 countries are expected to attend the conference, which will focus on legal obstacles to widespread access of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in Asia.

Thailand, home to an estimated 600,000 people with HIV/AIDS, most who cannot afford ARV drugs, has been heavily criticized by the US, the EU, and various multinational pharmaceutical companies for breaking intellectual property rights laws in 2006 and 2007. Known as compulsory licensing, the breach makes importing cheaper, generic ARV drugs from India possible.

Even though the practice is sanctioned by the World Trade organization in public health emergencies, Jon Ungphakorn, a former Thai senator, said at least one-third of the people living in developing countries who need ARVs are not receiving them.

"Even now the European Union is negotiating a new trade agreement with India which may result in making it more difficult for India to produce generic drugs that are saving lives in developing countries," said Jon, who helped lead Thailand's decision to enforce compulsory licensing.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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