Human Rights Watch Criticizes South African President Mbeki's Approach to AIDS Crisis

Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international organization based in New York City, on Wednesday accused South African President Thabo Mbeki of neglect in tackling the AIDS epidemic sweeping his country. A letter from the group called on Mbeki to take urgent action.

"The continued refusal of your government to . . . support the provision of the low-cost treatment for prevention of mother-to-child transmission, along with public statements that sow confusion about the scientific basis for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, are acts of injustice against your people," the letter said. HRW praised South Africa's commitment to human rights but said, "that commitment is belied by a policy of denial and neglect of the profound crisis of HIV/AIDS in South Africa." AIDS patients in South Africa have been subject to human rights violations including violence, abuse and discrimination, the letter charged. It added that while many governments are guilty of inaction on AIDS, South Africa has gone one step further by actively undermining proven AIDS treatments.

A recent study by South Africa's Medical Research Council found up to 7 million South Africans could die of AIDS by 2010 and urged the government to intervene more actively. But the government has disputed these findings and refuses to make AIDS drugs available through the public health system, saying they are unaffordable and have not been proven safe. Mbeki also has questioned the link between HIV and AIDS. The activist group Treatment Action Campaign is suing the government to make AIDS drugs available to HIV-positive pregnant women to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies. HRW's letter urged the government to drop its opposition to the lawsuit, which is due to go to court on Monday.

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