WHERE THEY STAND
In all the bluster and babble of the current
election campaign it is hard to fathom where politicians stand on HIV-related
issues, so PN has produced this at-a-glance-guide to where each of the political
parties stand on the key domestic issues that affect you
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 Testing |
Government to offer HIV test at people’s first STI screen. Already screens some arrivals in UK for TB. | All non-European migrants planning to stay
in Britain for more than a year will face compulsory HIV and TB tests. Those with TB will be automaticaly refused entry. |
Against compulsory testing of all asylum
seekers for HIV. |
Fiercely opposes Tory plans to subject immigrants to compulsory HIV testing because it stigmatises HIV and the immigrant population. |
 Criminalisation of HIV |
Officially opposed to prosecutions for ‘reckless’ transmission of HIV, but strangely silent on recent convictions. | No policy. | Oppose criminalisation of reckless transmission of infectious diseases because they undermine public health needs. | Opposes criminalisation of reckless transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases. |
 Access to treatment |
Denies free HIV treatment to failed asylum
seekers not already on HIV therapy. |
Will improve access to sexual health services through a review of the service capacity. | Want improved access to sexual health and GUM clinics and services for people with HIV/Aids including the development of self-care programmes. | Disability spokesperson Dr Joseph Healey, a person living with HIV, has campaigned for one day testing to be made available for all, and for restoration of ring-fenced funding for the testing and treatment of HIV. |
 Sexual health funding |
No longer listed as a government priority. UK STI rates are among the worst in Europe with GUM clinics forced to turn away patients despite £26 million investment. New 48 hour GU clinic appointment target for all by 2008. | Will expand GUM clinics and improve screening as part of proposed £34 billion NHS funding increase. Want expanded role for independent and charitable providers. | Wants to free NHS from centrally set targets to allow trusts to concentrate on sex education and treatment for particular communities. |
Pressing government to increase overall NHS funding and tackle under-staffing of STI clinics and improve uptake of HIV testing. |
 Gay rights |
Civil Partnership Bill was passed last December, and supported by the government. | Commentators say Tory attempts to amend
Civil Partnership Bill in the House of Lords to include carers and family
members in the same property was used as a ‘wrecking tactic’. |
Supports single Equality Act to outlaw all
discrimination and harassment including equal treatment for same sex couples
in pension arrangements. |
Pro legal recognition of same sex partnerships.
Has a number of ‘out’ gay candidates and campaigns for EU-wide recognition of same sex partnerships. Peter Tatchell joined the Greens last year. |
 Prevention |
Planning new national campaign aimed at young people on risks of unprotected sex. | Plans for ‘comprehensive and widespread’ public awareness campaign similar to late 80s HIV prevention campaigns. | Would publish a National Service Framework
for sexual health promotion, screening and treatment services and accelerate and extend roll-out of national chlamydia screening programme. |
Wants free contraception available in schools
and pharmacies and a high-profile media campaign that avoids presenting HIV positive people as ‘dangerous’. |
|
|
Plans to trial three year Young Person’s
Development Programme to reduce teen pregnancies and improve sexual health including young person’s confidential sexual health email service. |
Want to expand school nurses with key role
in actively promoting good public health. Propose campaign to help young
people avoid peer pressure, possibly similar to US-style abstinence promotion campaigns. |
Would deliver ‘appropriate’
sex education to all children from age of 7 to promote personal sexual responsibility and cut teenage pregnancies and STIs |
Wants all schools to provide adequate sex
education including information on the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects of human sexuality. |
20 things
To coincide with the May election, THT has published a second edition of 20
Things, a shopping list of demands for the government to help those living
with HIV.
Over half of the recommendations made in the 2001 edition have been addressed,
including
the extension
of the Disability Discrimination Act.
However, many issues remain unaddressed, and new infection rates, year on
year are still rising. This year the trust is keen to address new issues,
including clarification of the law regarding reckless transmission and making
condoms easily available in prisons. Lisa Power, head of policy at the THT,
said: “HIV is not just a virus requiring medical treatment. It takes
political will to turn the tide of an HIV epidemic. This publication is a
tool to help politicians and legislators understand how they contribute to
combating HIV and improving sexual health.”
Compiled by Rebecca Holman
