|
The
International AIDS Society
condemns raid on key HIV research facility in Uganda
STATEMENT
Monday
,
7
April
2014 - Geneva, Switzerland- The International AIDS Society
(IAS), the
leading independent global association of professionals working in
HIV,
strongly condemns
the raid carried out by the Ugandan authorities on the Makerere University Walter Reed
Project, a key HIV research facility, on April 3. During the raid one staff member was
arrested and later released.
The authorities alleged, incorrectly, that the centre was carrying
out unethical research and recruiting homosexuals.
The remarkable success so far achieved in the fight against HIV in Uganda and the world is
because of the combined efforts of researchers, people living with HIV, political and
community leaders, healthcare workers and governments. It is now well established that all
efforts, including
HIV
research,
prevention
and treatment
must focus
on key affected
populations and those vulnerable if we are to defeat AIDS.
The Uganda
n Government should protect and promote the
basic legal rights of those
providing much needed HIV research, prevention, treatment and care services and of their
clients. It should support HIV professionals by providing healthy and fair conditions of work
as well as freedom to carry out their work without fear or intimidation.
It must not harass
them, stigmatize the people needing their services or restrict their ability to provide essential
services.
###
About the IAS:
The International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's leading independent association of HIV professionals, with over 16,000 members from
more than 196 countries working at all levels of the global response to AIDS. The IAS members include researchers from all disciplines,
clinicians, public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic, as well as policy and programme planners.
The IAS is lead organizer of the IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, 30 June – 3 July 2013 and custodian of the biennial International AIDS Conference, which will be held in Melbourne,
Australia, 20-25 July 2014. www.iasociety.org | www.ias2013.org | www.aids2014.org
For more information:
Siân Bowen (Geneva, Switzerland)
IAS Senior Manager, Communications
Email: Sian.Bowen@iasociety.org
Source: International AIDS Society
"Reproduced with permission - International AIDS Society"
International AIDS Society
For more HIV and AIDS News visit...
Positively Positive - Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS News
|
