Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Integrated Regional Information Networks - December 2, 2004
JOHANNESBURG (PLUSNEWS) - International rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) is concerned that restrictions on condoms and HIV/AIDS information are undermining global efforts to tackle the pandemic.
Although condoms remain the single most effective prevention method against HIV, they face government-imposed constraints in numerous countries, HRW said in a report released on World AIDS Day.
The 30-page document highlights censorship of information about condoms in government-funded programmes, myths about condoms spread by religious leaders, and restrictions on condoms in numerous countries, where police confiscate condoms from AIDS outreach workers to use as evidence of illegal prostitution or sodomy.
"Governments should be promoting condom use - not treating condoms like contraband. The clear result of restricting access to condoms will be more lives lost to AIDS," Jonathan Cohen, a researcher with HRW's HIV/AIDS Programme, said in a statement.
Access the report: http://hrw.org/backgrounder/hivaids/condoms1204/
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