PHA-Exchange> U.S. eases restrictions on HIV+ travelers

[claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn]

 from Brian Pazvakavambwa <PazvakavambwaB at zw.afro.who.int> -----



President Bush announced on World AIDS Day he would ease the ban on HIV + 
individuals entering the U.S.

For a full link to the article, see below:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/12/02/MNGKFMO1ST1.DTL

Excerpt from the article:

"President Bush will ease a long-standing rule barring HIV-positive people from 
entering the United States without a special waiver, a ban long criticized by 
human rights groups.

Because of the rule, organizers of the biannual International AIDS Conferences 
have not held a gathering in the United States since 1990, when San Francisco 
hosted the event.

The White House chose Friday, World AIDS Day, to announce that Bush would issue 
an executive order allowing HIV-positive people to enter the United States on 
short-term tourist or business visas without having to seek special permission.

"This administration is very serious about fighting discrimination on AIDS,'' 
U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Mark Dybul said during a telephone interview after 
White House ceremonies marking the day.

Activists, taken by surprise by the announcement, generally praised Bush's 
decision but said all restrictions on immigrants with HIV should be lifted.



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