Discrimination, denial, and deportation

Hundreds of millions of people cross borders annually, traveling and migrating for work or school, for family reasons, or to flee persecution or natural disasters. Migrants often face discrimination, language and cultural barriers, and other obstacles to health care, but those who are living with HIV face even greater problems: they can be denied legal entry, turned away from care, and deported because of their infection. Discrimination, Denial, and Deportation: Human Rights Abuses Affecting Migrants Living with HIV identifies how violations of international law threaten both the lives of HIV-positive migrants and their families, and the goals of universal access to prevention and treatment that governments have pledged. Governments worldwide should immediately eliminate HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence, and remove discriminatory barriers to access to HIV prevention and treatment services for internal and international migrants. Individuals in detention awaiting deportation need to be provided with access to care and treatment. Governments must ensure that individuals previously receiving antiretroviral therapy are able to maintain access to treatment in detention and take steps to facilitate continuity of treatment upon deportation.