UN RIGHTS EXPERT HAILS THAI INITIATIVES ON HIV/AIDS, EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER APPLICATION OF POLICY TO CURB DRUG USE

2 August 2004



The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights issued the following statement today:

An independent expert of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has welcomed pledges made recently by the Thai Government at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok to pay increased attention to vulnerable populations and to change the approach in Thailand to treating injecting drug users as patients rather than criminals.

The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt, also saluted the Government's promise to support and collaborate with non-governmental organizations, including the Thai Drug User Network, and its recognition of injecting drug users in Thailand as a group extremely vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, among other measures.

Mr. Hunt singled out for praise the Government's commitment to ensuring access to anti-retroviral treatment for all who require it and to supporting neighbouring countries in this regard. "This is an important step toward realizing the right to health for people living with HIV/AIDS", said the Special Rapporteur. He added, however, that he remained concerned by reports of an alarming number of people living with HIV/AIDS who lack access to pre- and post-test counselling, and who are subject to breaches of confidentiality and discrimination in the healthcare system. "If true", he said, "such human rights violations will deter people from seeking health services".

In a 29 July communication to the Thai Government, the Special Rapporteur also expressed disquiet over reports regarding the implementation of Thailand’s policy to eradicate drug use, which has reportedly "generated a climate of fear that has driven drug users deeper underground and forced them beyond the reach of both prevention and treatment efforts".

"I am concerned that the Anti Narcotics Campaign, coupled with limited access to harm reduction services, has inadvertently created the conditions for a more extensive spread of the virus in Thailand", said Mr. Hunt, encouraging the authorities to act swiftly on recent policy initiatives in order to remedy the situation. The expert pointed to data showing that the number of injecting drug users that are seeking treatment has declined considerably in the period 2003-2004, while HIV prevalence rates among injecting drug users has remained unacceptably high at 50 per cent.

The Special Rapporteur urged the Government to ensure that the implementation of its recent initiatives is underpinned by Thailand's obligations under international human rights law, including those arising from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In addition, he encouraged the Thai Government to take measures, in accordance with the International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, such as ensuring equitable access to education, information, treatment, care and support programmes for all people affected by HIV/AIDS.