'Blinkered sensitivities' hindering fight against Aids

Political correctness gone mad and "blinkered sensitivities" are being blamed for the shockingly slow progress in the international fight against HIV and Aids, says the New Zealand Aids Foundation.

Executive director Rachael Le Mesurier says the foundation was dismayed at the "shocking behaviour" of some countries attending a special session of the UN General Assembly in New York last week on global responses to the Aids pandemic.

The session was convened to review progress by member states against targets set in a 2001 UN Declaration of Commitment.

Reaffirmation of the document looks likely to be stripped of references to communities at high risk of contracting HIV - men who have sex with men, sex workers and injecting drug users - because of ideological objections from certain member nations.

Most disturbingly, there had even been mention of removing the word "condom', for the same reasons, and also references to stigma and discrimination, Ms Le Mesurier said.

"With 500 people infected with HIV every minute, and 8000 dying per day, the world cannot afford to pander to blinkered sensitivities and cultural norms that support breaches of human rights," she said.

Ms Le Mesurier said the Government delegation of which she was a member had fought hard to ensure strong commitments made by the countries at the last special session in 2001 were not softened.

The delegation is headed by Health Minister Pete Hodgson.

- NZPA