Global Fund welcomes US and South Korea lifting of travel restrictions for those living with HIV
04 January 2010
Geneva – The Global Fund welcomes the lifting of entry restrictions to the United States and South Korea for those living with HIV. The new rules come into force in the United States today following a decision by US President Barack Obama in October 2009 to lift the restrictions that had been in place since 1987. South Korea’s new rules came into force on 1 January 2010.
“I congratulate the United States and the Republic of Korea for removing travel restrictions for people living with HIV,” said Prof. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “This decision is an important step towards removing the stigma around AIDS worldwide. I urge all other countries with such restrictions to take steps to remove them at the earliest.”
A number of countries still impose some form of travel restrictions on people living with HIV. The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights state that any restriction on liberty of movement or choice of residence based on suspected or real HIV status alone, including HIV screening of international travellers, is discriminatory.