Congresswoman Lee Responds to Uganda's HIV Discrimination Law

Statement

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus and member of the Appropriations Committee's subcommittee of State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement concerning Uganda's new HIV discrimination law:

"Having HIV is not a crime.

I am gravely concerned by Uganda's new HIV discrimination law, which criminalizes the transmission of HIV while promoting stigma and encouraging the breach of confidentiality between patients and medical providers.

This law not only violates human rights, but it endangers lives and undermines public health efforts.

While I respect the sovereignty of all nations, we must ensure that international human rights standards are upheld everywhere, including the right to health.

I hope that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the legislature will heed the warnings of local and international health experts and institute proven reforms that strengthen public health systems and end HIV/AIDS stigma.

Coupled with the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act, these laws are rooted in draconian and regressive policies and have no scientific basis.

In order to achieve the dream of an AIDS-free generation, we need to remove the stigma associated with HIV, increase education about the disease and promote treatment and counseling."

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