UNAIDS, the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS have released a press statement acknowledging Australia’s commitment of equality towards people living with HIV in their immigration policies.
UNAIDS welcomes confirmation from the Australian Government that people living with HIV do not face an automatic exclusion, or unequal treatment when applying for entry, stay or residence visas.
The announcement came ahead of the 20th International AIDS Conference, which will take place in Melbourne, Australia, from the 20th to the 25th of July 2014.
Executive Director of United Nations AIDS, Michel Sidibé, said eliminating travel restrictions is not only a human right for individuals; it improves business prospects for communities.
In 2012, more than 40 chief executives from some of the world’s largest companies signed a pledge opposing HIV restrictions, calling them discriminatory and bad for business.
Applications for visas from people living with HIV will be assessed against criteria applying to anyone with a chronic health condition.
