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MADRE Signs Letter to Bush Opposing Restrictions on US Funding to Combat HIV/AIDS and Trafficking

May 2005

MADRE has joined other US and international human rights and social justice organizations to send a letter to President Bush opposing US law and policy that requires organizations receiving US global HIV/AIDS and anti-trafficking funds to adopt specific organization-wide positions opposing prostitution. So far, the policy has been applied to international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but may soon be applied to US-based organizations as well. MADRE and other organizations oppose these restrictions in both cases. Such requirements contradict the right to free speech guaranteed by the US Constitution and international human rights treaties, undermine best practices in public health, and threaten to undermine both US anti-HIV/AIDS and anti-trafficking efforts. Media attention has recently been drawn to this issue as a result of Brazil's rejection of $40 million in US global AIDS funding.

Click here to see the letter MADRE has signed with other organizations. To send your own letter to Bush, and voice your concern about US policy that threatens the health and human rights of women and families worldwide, please visit the Center for Gender Health and Equity website (www.genderhealth.org) for a sample letter to send on your own behalf.