HIV-related Travel Restrictions El Salvador “ A Successful Experience” Ambassador Rodrigo Simán Mexico, August 2008

BACKGROUND El Salvador is a trustworthy sample of a successful experiences achievement, derived from the articulation between government and civil society in the national answer to the HIV and AIDS. The joint work has allowed among other things, to reform the legal marks and harmonize them with the constitutional and international commitments in the human rights matter.

BACKGROUND The Immigration Law of El Salvador (1986), states that to obtain the Salvadoran citizenship by naturalization it is required, among others: “Certificate of health, issued by a doctor of recognized integrity, stating that the person does not suffer infectious diseases”

CHRONOLOGY I. The National Commission against AIDS “CONASIDA” is conformed by the state ministries of the social area, this facilitates the decisions making process and their execution. The PLWA, the mass media, the Office of the general advocate of human rights, the civil society and the Private companies sector, are represented in this Commission.

CHRONOLOGY II. The “Legislation Alliance” has more than 5 years, in which governmental and nongovernmental institutions participate. This Alliance drew up the HIV-Aids regulation law which later was presented to the honorable Legislative Assembly where was approved by consensus.

CHRONOLOGY The HIV Law , valid in the country since 2001, which enunciates “It is not allowed to request the serological test for entering the country”. The derogation of such requirement was obtained in 2004. CONASIDA is the one in charge to verify that this Law is fulfilled and also to receive the denunciations

POLITICAL COMMITMENT It is important to point out that thanks to the endorsement by the highest political level, and the joint work between the civil Society and the Government through CONASIDA, and other strategic alliances, has made possible the elimination of the legal and social barriers of discrimination of the PLWA.

Summary of the Country’s Response 2002- 2007 Component 2002 2007 Trend Number of HIV cases in infants younger than 1 year. 138 15 89.1% Decrease Number of deaths due to AIDS 514 330 35.8% Decrease Number of diagnosed AIDS cases 595 426 28.4% Total number of HIV-detection tests performed to the population 112,000 285,510 Increased 2.5 times Total number of PLWA whit antiretroviral therapy 326 6,200 Increased 19 times

Antiretroviral Therapy El Salvador. 2001- 2007 Source: SUMEVE, December 2008

“We must stress the importance of promoting respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for the migrants. It is a precondition if we want to benefit from the positive asset generated by international migration. We cannot accept the burden imposed to people due to discriminatory practices when traveling with HIV/AIDS, at different borders” Mr. President Elías Antonio Saca New York, UNGASS 2008. When the first cases of AIDS were detected in the ‘80s. During those years, a civil war raged on in El Salvador that the lives of 80,000 Salvadorians. This war was predominantly fought between 1980 and 1992. The Peace Accords mediated by the U.N. Forces , is considered to be the most successful U.N.-brokered agreement in the world today, the majority of the Accords have been followed. Those fateful days are behind us now, Currently, our country faces other major challenges, no longer based on ideological struggles but rather on strategies against poverty, violence, hunger and other issues of great social implication, such as AIDS and HIV. The HIV/AIDS Program of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance was created in 1987 as the principal instance of the health sector responsible for the treatment, prevention and control of sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.

When the first cases of AIDS were detected in the ‘80s When the first cases of AIDS were detected in the ‘80s. During those years, a civil war raged on in El Salvador that the lives of 80,000 Salvadorians. This war was predominantly fought between 1980 and 1992. The Peace Accords mediated by the U.N. Forces , is considered to be the most successful U.N.-brokered agreement in the world today, the majority of the Accords have been followed. Those fateful days are behind us now, Currently, our country faces other major challenges, no longer based on ideological struggles but rather on strategies against poverty, violence, hunger and other issues of great social implication, such as AIDS and HIV. The HIV/AIDS Program of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance was created in 1987 as the principal instance of the health sector responsible for the treatment, prevention and control of sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. “ To eliminate this restrictions only depends on two steps, the first is to win the battle of the barbarism of the ignorance and the second it requires the firm determination and political will of the governments to initiate and to accelerate these processes ” Mr. President Elías Antonio Saca New York, UNGASS 2008.

Thank you !! Gracias !!