UNAIDS said the court’s decision
would “expand and improve the
global AIDS response even further”.
It also noted that US leadership had
been instrumental in the progress
made since the adoption of the
United States Leadership Against
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Act in 2003, which authorised the
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR)—described as the
largest health initiative undertaken
by one country—to address the global
health epidemic.
NGOs said the court’s decision
would allow organisations to
address the HIV/AIDS epidemic with
evidence-based interventions, free
from discrimination and political
agendas. “This decision is a victory
for human rights”, said Serra Sippel,
president of the Centre for Health
and Gender Equity (CHANGE), which
promotes the sexual and reproductive
health and rights of women and
girls worldwide. It argued that the
policy had exacerbated stigma
and discrimination against already
marginalised groups. “The antiprostitution
loyalty oath was based
on discrimination against one of the
groups most at risk of HIV infection
and had nothing to do with evidence
or best practices”, said Sippel. “This
will allow organisations fighting HIV
to address the epidemic in the most
effective way possible, and fulfil sex
workers’ basic human right to lifesaving
health care.”