 |
 |
US HIV ban finally gone
January 4, 2010 3:58 PM
Barack Obama says the old policy was a "decision rooted in fear rather than fact".
The ban on HIV-positive people entering the US officially ends today, Monday 4th January. The 22-year-old law was one of the most restrictive immigration policies in the world for people with HIV but was lifted following pressure from the EU. In November President Barack Obama described it as a "decision rooted in fear rather than fact".
Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford led a campaign to include the abolition of HIV/AIDS discrimination as a principal goal in EU visa negotiations with the US.
In July 2008 when the US Senate first moved to lift the ban, Sarah Ludford said: "As a campaigner on this issue I'm delighted that the Senate's ruling has cleared the way the end to this discriminatory, unjustified and out-dated policy, though not a moment too soon. I'm gratified that EU pressure led by Euro-MPs has contributed to this outcome."
Related Links
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats