Please find attached three news articles and three situation reports relating to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Peru in the years 2000-2002.
The earliest news article relates mostly to the situation of sex workers (Latinamerica Press 10 Apr. 2000, 3). Another 2000 article refers to individual and organizational efforts to reduce discrimination against persons who are HIV-positive or have AIDS, and makes a reference to the estimated number of persons infected at the time (45,000) and the high cost of "the necessary drug cocktails" and treatment (US$25,000 a year) (IPS 13 Dec. 2000). The most recent article refers to efforts by women and women's organizations to provide "social assistance and skills training to other female HIV/AIDS patients" (ibid. 3 Oct. 2002). Among the statements provided, the report quotes the Peruvian Minister of Health as stating:
"There are 5,000 people with AIDS [in Peru], 1,000 of whom are being treated by the social security system, because they have coverage, and another 800 of whom are women and children who receive treatment from the Health Ministry..."
"That leaves 3,200 patients who cannot be attended because the budget is too tight. But we give priority to pregnant women with HIV/AIDS, to keep them from passing it on to their unborn children," the minister added.
The report also quotes a spokesman for Vía Libre, a non-government organization, as saying that the treatment for pregnant women living with HIV is insufficient, "because they are given AZT (an anti-retroviral drug) from six weeks before the birth to six weeks afterwards, to reduce the rate of transmission," and adds that "after that they are not given anything, and are just allowed to die" (ibid.).
Finally, the report states that
[o]f the 12 NGOs in Peru fighting for the right of AIDS patients to health care, providing medical assistance and free or cut-price medicines, and organizing support groups for people living with HIV/AIDS, eight are based in Lima (ibid.).
The most recent situation report attached is a 2002 brief by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); however, the document quotes statistics dating from 1997 to 2000. The other situation reports attached were published by Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) in 2000 and 2001; they provide background information on the HIV/AIDS situation in Peru and mention the support work provided by MSF.
The three attached reports add to the information on support groups provided in PER29973.E and PER29972.E, both of 21 September 1998. These Responses refer to support efforts by the Homosexual Movement of Lima (Movimiento Homosexual de Lima, MHOL). On its current news and information Website, MHOL indicates that it continues to provide counselling and legal advice, by appointment (MHOL 2003a). MHOL also reports on a February 2003 case of discrimination against a gay activist, whose membership in a gymnasium was cancelled after he spoke publicly about his homosexuality; the gym owner reportedly argued that other members were concerned about possible HIV infection through sweat (MHOL 2003b). According to MHOL, the incident shows that prejudice against homosexuals, such as linking their sexual orientation to HIV and AIDS, continues to exist in Peru (ibid.). The Research Directorate was unable to communicate directly with MHOL for additional information within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Inter Press Service (IPS). 3 October 2002. Abraham Lama. "Health-Peru: AIDS Activism—For Women, By Women." (NEXIS)
_____. 13 December 2000. Abraham Lama. "Health-Peru: Fighting AIDS Discrimination." (NEXIS)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 10 April 2000. Vol. 32, No. 13. Stephanie Boyd. "No Easy Answers."
Movimiento Homosexual de Lima (MHOL). 2003a. "Servicios exclusivos para tí." <http://mhol.tripod.com.pe/mhol/id9.html> [Accessed 14 Apr. 2003]
_____. 2003b. "Activista gay es discriminado en gimnasio." <http://mhol.tripod.com.pe/ mhol/id13.html> [Accessed 14 Apr. 2003]
Attachments
Doctors Without Borders [New York]. 2001. "Peru." Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) 2001 International Activity Report. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/publications/ar/i2001/peru.shtml> [Accessed 11 Apr. 2003]
Inter Press Service (IPS). 3 October 2002. Abraham Lama. "Health-Peru: AIDS Activism3/4For Women, By Women." (NEXIS)
_____. 13 December 2000. Abraham Lama. "Health-Peru: Fighting AIDS Discrimination." (NEXIS)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 10 April 2000. Vol. 32, No. 13. Stephanie Boyd. "No Easy Answers."
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) [Brussels]. 1 November 2000. "Peru: AIDS Prevention and Reproductive Health." <http://www.msf.org/content/page.cfm?articleid=6589CD9A- DC2C-11D4-B2010060084A6370> [Accessed 11 Apr. 2003]
United States of America. 10 July 2002. United States Agency for International Development (USAID). "Peru: Situation Analysis." <http://www.usaid.gov/pop_health/aids/country_peru.html> [Accessed 14 Apr. 2003]