A federal court today ruled that the government cannot force U.S. organizations to “denounce” prositution and sex trafficking as a condition for recieving international HIV and AIDS funding. The ruling applies only to U.S.-based non-governmental organizations and does not relieve non-U.S. organizations recieving U.S. funds from being subject to restrictions.
Sex worker activists and allies in the global movement for sexual health, justice, and human rights celebrated as the United States recognized the basic rights of sex workers.
The Justice Department has dropped its appeal of an injunction prohibiting enforcement of the controversial "prostitution pledge" in US Global AIDS Policy. Advocates hope this signals an intention to fundamentally change the restriction.
Does U.S. foreign policy combat HIV and trafficking, or combat women working in the sex sector?
PEPFAR presents the President-Elect both opportunities and challenges. The 2008 bill authorizes dramatic increases in funding for treatment and care. But the controversial policies supported by the Bush administration are still in place.
Rather than targeting the most at-risk populations, ideological provisions in PEPFAR marginalize sex workers and all women. The next administration can take the ideology out.
In the upcoming presidential debate on foreign policy issues, will candidates be asked to address sexual and reproductive health and human rights of women as a critical component to our nation’s foreign policy?
The upcoming US election presents a vital opportunity to address PEFPAR’s ideological blinders.
HIV prevention programs for sex workers are most effective when they develop trust and affirm dignity. The prostitution pledge puts the best programs at risk.
The grim facts are these: HIV/AIDS is an epidemic of gargantuan proportion among Black people in the United States – rivaling that of African nations. But what is our government doing about it?
