The Governing Council,

Recalling

• the final conclusions of the First Global Parliamentary Meeting on HIV/AIDS (November 2007) in which parliamentarians pledged to work to eliminate travel restrictions for people living with HIV/AIDS and oppose mandatory HIV testing of immigrants and refugees,
• the five general Recommendations of the International Task Team on HIV-related Travel Restrictions, endorsed by the IPU Governing Council at its 184th session (Addis Ababa, April 2009),
• the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (2001) and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS (2006), in which Governments committed to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for people living with HIV and vulnerable groups, and to overcoming HIV-related stigma and discrimination, 

Expresses its concernthat as of March 2010, it appears that 52 countries, territories and areas still have some form of restriction on entry, stay and residence based on positive HIV status only.  The Council emphasisesthat such restrictions, rather than protecting public health, are discriminatory and that the best way to protect public health is to ensure that all mobile people – citizens and non-citizens – have access to HIV information and services. 

The Council renews its call on all countries that still have HIV-specific restrictions on entry, stay and residence to eliminate them, and ensure that people living with HIV are no longer excluded, detained or deported on the basis of their HIV status.

The Council encourages parliamentarians in countries with restrictions to play a leading role in their elimination, by reforming laws and by monitoring the regulations, policies and practices of relevant authorities in their countries.  It urges parliamentarians to advocate for the right of their citizens living with HIV to have equal freedom of movement and to press senior officials in their governments to take up the issue with countries that have such restrictions.  It calls for renewed parliamentary commitment to Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, including expanded HIV programming for mobile populations – both nationals and non-nationals.

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