European Parliament calls for US to reconsider HIV ban

3.17.00pm GMT Fri 23rd May 2008

The EU has stepped up to the mark after Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford launched her campaign to end the American policy barring HIV positive people from entering the country.

USA immigration law declares any foreign national who tests positive for HIV is "inadmissible," barred from permanent residence and even short-term travel in the United States.

Yesterday the European Commission voted overwhelmingly to raise the issue of people with HIV being exempted from entry into the USA visa waiver programme has been passed by MEPs, as one of a range of visa issues that exist between the USA and EU.

DELGA Chair Jen Yockney said, "This will not solve the problem overnight but it is a great boost that the EU are going to be taking up this issue with the United States. We cannot take a resolution of the problem for granted though, so keep telling your friends and colleagues about Sarah's campaign and sharing the website address to get them to sign her petition."