Activists target HIV-related human rights

MEXICO CITY, July 16 (UPI) -- Human rights activists say the Mexican government is falling short on efforts to address HIV-related human rights abuses.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, called on organizers of the upcoming International AIDS Conference in Mexico City to make human rights a central theme of the meeting.

"Ahead of the 17th international AIDS conference, governments are still violating the rights of people living with or at high risk of HIV infection," Vivanco said in a statement. "Governments have done little to fulfill their frequent promises to end HIV-related rights abuses. But until they act to end such abuses, even the best-planned policies to treat HIV and stop the spread of AIDS will fail."

The rights group said the Mexican government has to do more to implement legislation and programs to address HIV-related human rights abuses.

"Mexico has good laws on HIV/AIDS," said Anuar I. Luna Cadena of the Mexican Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS. "But government institutions don't adequately monitor abuses faced by people living with HIV or make sure they get the treatment and/or protection they're legally entitled to."