'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.