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Population Council Applauds Lifting of HIV Travel Ban

NEW YORK, NY (3 November 2009) — The Population Council applauds President Barack Obama for lifting the US entry ban for non-citizens living with HIV or AIDS. The United States is one of only 12 countries in the world with such a ban.

“President Obama is taking a welcome and long overdue step to eliminate this unnecessary and unfortunate restriction,” said Naomi Rutenberg, Ph.D., director of the HIV and AIDS program at the Population Council. “Fighting the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS is one of the most effective tools for combating the disease, and yet this ban stigmatized HIV-positive individuals.”

In 2008, Congress passed legislation, signed by former President Bush, that gave the president the authority to remove the ban. The new rule, published in the Federal Register, will take effect in January 2010. In addition to bringing the United States closer to the community of nations, it will enable future international conferences and meetings on HIV and AIDS and other topics to be scheduled in the United States. Currently, most such meetings are scheduled outside of the United States because of this ban. Most leading scientists have argued for years that there is no medical or scientific rationale for the prohibition.

Rutenberg added, “The US Federal Government has an array of programs to combat HIV and AIDS at home and around the world. PEPFAR [the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] has provided treatment to millions in developing countries, and the reauthorization of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act will help treat people with HIV in the United States. Our government is also investing millions in research on essential prevention technologies. The removal of this travel ban sends another signal to the global community that the United States is truly a world leader in addressing HIV and AIDS.”

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About the Population Council
The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees.

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