For Immediate Release:	February 21, 2003
For More Information:	John Heffernan, Physicians for Human Rights, jheffernan@phrusa.org, 617 413-6407
Sponsor Organization:	Physicians for Human Rights
“These proposed funding restrictions undermine the President’s commitment to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission to seven million people.” --Holly Burkhalter, PHR
Today, Physicians for Human Rights criticized the Bush Administration’s intention to link support for groups providing critical HIV/AIDS services to restrictive policies on international family planning. According to a State Department memo, the Administration plans to make it virtually impossible for organizations that provide HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services to receive funds if they also perform abortions or engage in abortion-related activities, including education. “These proposed funding restrictions undermine the President’s commitment to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission to seven million people.” said Holly Burkhalter, U.S. Policy Director for Physicians for Human Rights. “They could potentially sideline critical HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, including family planning programs that provide much needed prevention services. Any effort to restrict condom distribution and HIV/AIDS education and counseling will impede efforts to reach the Administration’s goal.” Currently, the Mexico City policy – also called the “global gag rule” – denies United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds to health, family planning or humanitarian groups if they provide abortion services, counseling or referrals – even if such services are funded independently. Late last week, reports indicated that the Administration intended to revise the “gag rule” to allow health groups providing abortions to be eligible for HIV/AIDS funding if they have a separately financed and administered HIV/AIDS program. Most reports, however, didn't mention the Bush Administration intends to expand the “gag rule” to cover essentially all overseas programs, including the Global AIDS initiative unveiled by the President in his State of the Union address last month. The State Department memo stipulates that in addition to USAID programs, which include those addressing HIV/AIDS, violence against women, maternal mortality and refugees, funding for programs administered by the State Department would also be covered by the “gag rule” for the first time. As stated above, the memo also mentions that health groups providing abortion services may be eligible for HIV/AIDS funding if they have a “discrete” HIV/AIDS program. This concession, however, may have little practical value. It is unclear what a “discrete” HIV/AIDS program would be, given the dual use of condoms for disease prevention and contraception. Physicians for Human Rights underscores that condoms, which are already in short supply in AIDS burdened countries, are a frontline defense against transmission of HIV/AIDS. Moreover, HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services in many countries are integrated into other public health programs, and administered by health workers engaged in a variety of other services. Physicians for Human Rights characterizes the proposed regulations as ideological hairsplitting which imposes unrealistic requirements on organizations that are engaged in AIDS-related activities while also addressing family planning needs. “This type of restriction, based on ideological grounds, is grossly irresponsible,” said Burkhalter. “Worldwide an estimated fourteen thousand people contract HIV/AIDS every day -- we can’t afford to separate HIV/AIDS education, prevention and treatment from other healthcare services. It doesn’t make sense for either the providers or the patients.” Founded in 1986, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), based in Boston, MA, mobilizes the health professions to promote health by protecting human rights. Health Action AIDS is a project of Physicians for Human Rights in coordination with Partners In Health. As a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, PHR shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. ###