HIV/AIDS Meetings Disrupted, Offices Shuttered, Advocates Targeted

BBSNews August 27, 2007 -- New York (HRW) The Chinese government's ongoing harassment of HIV/AIDS activists and intensified surveillance of AIDS support groups raise serious questions about its commitment to combating the illness, Human Rights Watch said today.

Over the past three weeks police have forced the cancellation of three separate meetings on HIV/AIDS in the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong province and Kaifeng in Henan province. Henan authorities have also ordered the closure of an HIV/AIDS support group's offices and are harassing a leading HIV/AIDS activist there.

"These individuals and groups dedicated to addressing the enormous suffering wrought by China's HIV/AIDS epidemic should not face police threats and harassment," said Joe Amon, Human Rights Watch's HIV/AIDS director. "China's grassroots HIV/AIDS activists need and deserve praise and support, not intimidation tactics by state security forces." read more