China Lifts Ban on HIV+ Visitors

In a surprising but welcome policy change, the government of China announced today that it would lift its decades-old ban on allowing HIV-positive people to enter the country. The move was clearly timed to coincide with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, which opens on Saturday, May 1. The 4-month-long expo is expected to draw millions of visitors, including more than 4 million foreigners.

The change in policy has been hailed by many international humanitarian, health, and HIV/AIDS organizations. The Director-General of the World Health Organization said:

lq.php?p=pUs&q=A9s This decision should inspire other nations to change laws and policies that continue to discriminate against people living with HIV. rq.png

From news.bbc.co.uk via clp.ly

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon echoed these sentiments and urged the more than 50 other nations that still prohibit or restrict entry by HIV-positive individuals:

lq.php?p=pUs&q=A9w Punitive policies and practices only hamper the global AIDS response. I urge all other countries with such restrictions to remove them as a matter of priority and urgency. rq.png

From news.bbc.co.uk via clp.ly

It is estimated that there were 740,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in China in 2009. According to a United Nations report, as many as 54,000 Chinese people have died of the disease. The report also indicates that since 2008, the Chinese government has reinvigorated its commitment to AIDS awareness and prevention.

On October 30, 2009, the United States lifted its own 22-year ban on allowing HIV-positive individuals to enter the country. According to the website hivtravel.org, the following nations still bar any entry by HIV-positive persons:

* Brunei

* Equatorial Guinea

* South Korea

* Papua New Guinea

* Qatar

* Russia

* Singapore

* Sudan

* United Arab Emirates

* Yemen

Several other countries limit the amountChina Lifts Ban on HIV+ Visitors

In a surprising but welcome policy change, the government of China announced today that it would lift its decades-old ban on allowing HIV-positive people to enter the country. The move was clearly timed to coincide with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, which opens on Saturday, May 1. The 4-month-long expo is expected to draw millions of visitors, including more than 4 million foreigners.

The change in policy has been hailed by many international humanitarian, health, and HIV/AIDS organizations. The Director-General of the World Health Organization said:

lq.php?p=pUs&q=A9s This decision should inspire other nations to change laws and policies that continue to discriminate against people living with HIV. rq.png

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon echoed these sentiments and urged the more than 50 other nations that still prohibit or restrict entry by HIV-positive individuals:

lq.php?p=pUs&q=A9w Punitive policies and practices only hamper the global AIDS response. I urge all other countries with such restrictions to remove them as a matter of priority and urgency. rq.png

It is estimated that there were 740,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in China in 2009. According to a United Nations report, as many as 54,000 Chinese people have died of the disease. The report also indicates that since 2008, the Chinese government has reinvigorated its commitment to AIDS awareness and prevention.

On October 30, 2009, the United States lifted its own 22-year ban on allowing HIV-positive individuals to enter the country. According to the website hivtravel.org, the following nations still bar any entry by HIV-positive persons:

  • Brunei
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • South Korea
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Qatar
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • Sudan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen

Several other countries limit the amount of time that HIV-positive individuals may visit, and some (including all the nations listed immediately above) will deport any visitors found to have HIV. Those countries that will deport HIV-positive visitors and which have not been listed above are:

  • Armenia
  • Bahrain
  • Egypt
  • Hungary
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • The Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  • Kuwait
  • Malaysia
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Oman

Source: Carnal Nation (http://s.tt/11JEx)

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