Human rights abuses are fuelling HIV epidemic, charities say

Unless governments act to end the abuses of human rights that encourage the spread of HIV, little progress will be made in fighting the global epidemic, a coalition of AIDS and human rights organisations warned in a statement published this week.

The coalition, led by Human Rights Watch and including more than 400 other groups, called on the organisers of the International AIDS Conference, being held from 3 to 8 August in Mexico City, to make human rights a central theme.

“Ahead of the 17th International AIDS Conference, governments are still violating the rights of people living with or at high risk of HIV infection,” …